Abundant Life by Jenna Vick Silliman

Jenna Vick Silliman, 2012

Do you want to focus your life on what is really important to you? Write your own obituary!

Jenna Vick Silliman lived the abundant life of Jesus Christ!

Jenna danced for the last time as she twirled off the planet! Jennifer Elizabeth Vick Silliman (Jenna) was born on February 18, 1958 and died at age 107 on March 1, 2065. Born in San Francisco, California she was the daughter of James Allan Vick and Jacqueline Frances Pearson. She was married to Clifford Arthur Silliman (Cliff) who preceded her in death. Together they had eight children, Daniel James (Married Elizabeth Jarvis), Valerie Joy, David Arthur (Married Charisa Nelson), Michael Aaron, Joshua Andrew, Stephen Matthew, Luke Thomas, and Peter Stanford and ___ grandchildren… and ___great-granchildren…[It will be glorious to have a LONG list of all the grandbabies here!]

Jenna was raised in the San Francisco Bay Area, married Cliff at age 22, and homemaking was her chosen career. She resided in Sequim, Washington for 65 years, but delighted in traveling, dancing and flagging in worship, speaking, and encouraging disciples for Jesus all over the world.

Jenna was a prayer warrior and made a lifestyle of living in unbroken fellowship with God. Her favorite verse in the Bible was Psalm 16:11/Acts 2:28 “In the Lord's presence is the fullness of joy!”

She was a writer and author of many published books, the most well-known is “Shall We Dance?” about dancing in the Holy Spirit.

She was known for loving King Jesus with all her heart, for her inspirational speaking, her colorful clothing and twirly skirts, and enthusiasm for the abundant life of the Lord. She will be missed by many.

Her life was not a journey to the grave…rather she danced till she dropped, body thoroughly used up and worn out so that she arrived at those gorgeous pearly gates screaming, “Whoohooo! What a ride!”

Right at Home

He never really felt quite at home.

He stumbled

He fumbled

He got bucked off

He prayed

He stood

He picked up

He got back on

He loved to fish…wasn’t much on catchin’

He listened—especially to a child.

He smiled when he cried.

He saw:

Big in little

God in dirty

Strength in weak

He said: 

                “Take yer time—you’ll get there faster”

                “If you don’t quit you win”

“Just ‘cuz you can—don’t mean you should”

“Can’t clean a fish before you catch it”

“Words are powerful”

 “A love filled prayer, in the hands of faith, is the strongest force on earth”

“Everybody matters”

He spelled unique—YOUnique

He lived simple, quiet and slow

When he failed, he prayed…he prayed, often.

His Hero was Jesus—which made all the difference.

He believed the nursery rhyme:

Merrily, merrily, merrily life is but a dream…and when you die—you truly wake.

And now—he’s truly awake.

He never really felt quite at home...until now.

~

Film at 11: My Own Eulogy

I have to admit I have imagined being at my own funeral. I know, I know: technically, you are at your own funeral. However, since I believe that death will bring me face to face with my Savior, I doubt I will also be present in spirit where loved ones may have gathered to remember me. Unlike Tom Sawyer and Huck, I won’t be shocking family and friends by walking into my own funeral.

A eulogy is different from an obituary. An obit is factual and in printed or electronic form; a eulogy is delivered in person at a funeral or memorial service, usually with praise about the deceased, with some creative flair. Since I am uncomfortable at praising myself for 20 minutes (is that how long a eulogy should be?), I will proceed with praising others who have made my life worth eulogizing.

If I cannot be at my own funeral in spirit, at least I can be there in film. In a culture where people record the most inane of events on YouTube, pre-taping the great goodbye is not too far-fetched:

“I love you. I love that you came to say goodbye to me. I love you for being among many of the people I have loved and laughed with. I especially love you, Tim, and you, Sam, Maggie and Emma. Besides my Savior Jesus, you are the center of my life. You were amazing children to raise--I am including you, Tim! ;)--you have each made me proud. Each day with you was a gift, and even now I am chuckling about all of our private jokes and laughter over movies, Dad’s quirky songs, Apples to Apples, and all of life’s craziness. Keep laughing and be kind to one another. Those are God’s medicine for a world prone to sadness. Tim, you really are the kindest and best of men--yes, that is a Jane Austen quote. I cannot leave this life without at least one or two.

To my sisters, thank you for being such good friends along my journey, even when we could not stand one another way back when. Thank you, Ann, for sharing your love of good food and wine and museums. Thank you, Lois, for being so darn cheeky and fun. And by the way, neither of you can steal my I.D. to enter the pearly gates. For my brother Des, I forgive you for giving me a bloody nose a couple of times when we were little. I probably deserved it.

Kate, my dear mother, all that tea you made me probably killed me. Just kidding. I really don’t know what caused my death, but I know it wasn’t you. I think. Just kidding, again, Mom! I love you, and love to tease you. You mean the world to me, as does the rest of our extended family. I am so thankful that God placed me in the midst of a large, fun Irish family--I won’t ever forget the many Curran kindnesses shown to my family and me.

Hello, friends! Chris, you were my inspiration for hospitality and intercessory prayer. Rhonda, you are my soul sister. Debbie, you taught me much about worship music. Judy, Joan, Robin, Mo and Shell: graciousness personified. Sharon, you taught me to laugh at myself and exemplify servanthood. Sandy, thank you for taking the time to mentor a young believer. I can’t mention each one of you; I wish I could. But we would be here all day, and this is really supposed to be about me, not you.

To my in-laws, thank you for your love and for the amazing son you raised. I can never repay you for your love and generosity to our children, your grandchildren.

Gordon-Conwell people, you are so dear to me and in my thoughts and prayers. At least I think you are. I could be really busy talking to Jane Austen, Charles Dickens, Martin Luther and C.S. Lewis, and my grandmothers right now. And then my father and I have an appointment to read the Wall Street Journal cover to cover after praising God for a millennium or two.

But lastly--and yes, Tim, I will have the last word--I really hope and pray that each of you--especially my children--will remember something I told you or showed you about God. I hope I did. If not, what a waste. Not that time spent with you was a waste, but I wasted precious time if I did not love you more and myself less. If I had, I would have made sure you knew that Jesus saved me from death and from myself, and how much I want you to know His love and saving grace.

Some of you have told me my laughter is infectious. Or annoying. You know who you are. Well, so is God’s love. Infectious, I mean--not annoying! I pray I shared both love and laughter.”

I Still Have a Voice, After I Said My Last Amen" by Linda Maynard

We are confident I say, and willing rather to be absent from

the body and to be present with the Lord. 2 Corinthians 5:8

Years ago, I made the decision that I am going to donate my body to Medical Science when I die.

 As we each are writing our own eulogy on Kingdom Bloggers, I decided to write mine as a “conversation” between myself and Katrina, an actual Medical Student from New Zealand.

These are words of Katrina…”For me, dissection was the first time in my medical career that someone had placed enormous trust in me. This person had trusted me to respect their body and to use it wisely

“Dear Lady, when I saw you lying still and naked, it took my breath away. I was a little afraid, but I approached the table to get a closer look at you. I wanted to be all scientific minded, you know kind of hardened.  I couldn’t do it. I felt admiration for you. I know my father, a doctor would be proud of a decision I made at that moment .With skills and abilities; I would try to be an excellent doctor. I would now never forget that my patients are more than a case number.

To know that you would approach this respectfully makes my decision to help further the study of medicine, the right one.”

“Just so you know a few things about me, as you go about your “business.” I was a wife and mother. I was, according to my daughter in law, the best mother in law, anyone can ask for. I had 2 adored grandchildren. I had a sister, 3 brothers and a myriad of relatives that come from their unions. I was a friend and a neighbor. I was a sister in the Lord, to the Body of believers. I was an artist. I loved to write. I had been a clown and liked to joke and make people laugh. I graduated from the school of life’s experiences. I was more importantly a student of the Word of God. And last and most importantly, I am a beloved Child of God.”

“As I look at your heart Dear Lady, I can see what is before my eyes, but is there more? I imagine that you have had a heart filled with love…Did you feel you could not contain it? None of us can escape from rejection… did your heart feel sadness? Did you withdraw? Had it experienced the deep grief of losing loved ones who died before you? Did your heart still beat with a pitter patter when your husband came into a room before he died?”

“You are an intuitive young woman. You discern what the human eyes can’t see. That gift is going to serve you well in your profession.”

Maybe I should forewarn you about some “hardware” in my body. I had a hip replacement and a back surgery in my 50’s. It involved fusion with a plate and screws and an artificial hip. The two doctors who performed these surgeries were skilled. They had a wonderful bedside manner. I was miraculously relieved of pain that I had suffered since I was a teen Sadly, medical science seemed inadequate to diagnose my issues sooner. Even more painful than that, is that I encountered Doctors would didn’t believe me. Please don’t do that to your patients they would rather hear an honest “I just don’t know” rather than to be suspected of lying. They gave me a new life back.”

Katrina is quiet. She is pondering what she has just heard and thinks it is wise to remember it.

“Katrina, my arms didn’t simply lay at my sides. They have hugged many people. Some needed comfort or a sense of safety. Others wanted to share joyous news. My lips were the vehicle for tender kisses that my husband and I shared. I used them with my children and my grandchildren to get them to pucker up. Even though you can’t see my eyes, they were a window to my soul. When I suffered depression, it was evident to those around me. Yet as clear as day, when the Light came…they became brightly illuminated.  My womb carried three children, where they grew in safety. My shoulders were a place for others to lay their heads when they were tired or needed to cry. My legs were the vehicle that walked me down the aisle in a church to meet my husband in marriage. I ran after my children at play and I paced the floor worrying about them, while they were sick. There was a time that I ran away from God. I was scared and felt unworthy but I am glad to tell you that He found me. Remember this Katrina, no one can out run Him”

“Dear lady, why is it that I don’t view you as an assignment? I dare say, it almost feels like I am standing in a sacred place, beside you. My childhood minister talked about holiness. I didn’t know what he meant.  I just sense awe and a power here with you. “

“Katrina, what you are saying is true. You are on Holy Ground. You are learning that a person is not the shell that you see before you but the true essence of a person is their spirit. My spirit is away at home with my Loving God. He, who captured my heart, is longing to find a home in your heart too…and death will be no more.”

 “The last day in the dissection room was a memorial service for those who had donated their bodies…At this service we learned the identities of people who taught us so much. "

Faithful

Yesterday I stood at the cemetery over my parent’s grave.  I gave thanks for their life.  I rearranged the flowers.  I thought of the day two years ago as the matriarch was laid to rest joining my father in the presence of the Lord.

I had written her eulogy.  It was pretty much a stick to the facts type of eulogy.  It said little of the day-to-day struggles and joys that made up a life of nearly 92 years.  As we stood there, my husband and I discussed our own mortality.  We agreed it was time to purchase a burial plot as my mother had done.   

I imagine my eulogy will be like my mother’s, a stick to the facts one.  It will read something like this:

Joyce Ann Johannesen Lighari born November 8, died ___________.  Born in Brooklyn NY she was the daughter of Elsie and Olav Johannesen who preceded her in death.  Also preceding her in death are her two brothers and her granddaughter Rukhsanah Israel Lighari.

Joyce was the married to Latif Lighari for _____ years (I'm hoping for a minimum of 60 years).  Together they had eight children, ?? grandchildren (there are 12 so far), ?? great grandchildren (there are 2 so far) and ? great-great grandchildren (I plan on living a long time). I am so proud of my beautiful family.  I  hope everyone is named and their location given when this is read.

She was a graduate of the University of Missouri.  Later she obtained her Master’s degree in Biblical Studies from Trevecca Nazarene University.  She also completed a EdD from Trevecca in 2013.  She held numerous jobs in various careers throughout her life. 

Joyce greatest joy and deepest desire was to be faithful to her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.  She loved and cared for her family with all of her heart and energy.  She loved to study.  She loved to preach.

I imagine my eulogy will say something about where I lived and maybe how I died.  I don’t imagine it will say much other than a few short paragraphs.  I don’t expect there will be honors and accolades.  I don’t think there will be a large crowd other than my immediate family gathered as I’m laid to rest.

If they write a word on my tombstone, I hope it’s Faithful.  If when I’m gone those that knew me described me as faithful, that’s enough.