Honoring Ophelia Berry
Randall Caselman
4/23/97
Honoring Ophelia Berry
Friday morning as the funeral home left the house with her body, Shelly in tears said, what do we do now? Indeed, indeed how do we cope, what do we do when we lose those we love so much and have depended on for so long? Let me give some possible suggestions:
Believe in God's divine presence. He promises to be with us in our times of need. Of all the people who ever lived, I think David was the surest of God’s presence in his life.
God is our refuge and strength, He is a very present help in our time of need... Even though the world be shaken, even though the mountains be moved, and the waters of life be troubled, God is present in our lives.... You know my path and my lying down, and are acquainted with all my ways... You have built a hedge about me to protect me... Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me. Jesus promises,
If anyone loves me, he will obey my teaching. My Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him. The Hebrews writer tells us that
God will never leave us, that He will never forsake us. Is there any doubt that God and Jesus are present with us... Even in this sadness?
We can be thankful for His power in our lives. Jesus and His Apostles were caught in a storm of life threatening proportions. Jesus calmed that storm with only three words, Peace
be still. If Jesus can speak and the forces of nature respond then He can calm the storms in our lives...
And He does... And He does.
Thursday evening we stood around Ophelia’s bed with joined hands and hearts. We prayed for her a peaceful passage from this life into the arms of God. And He granted us that prayer. Jesus whispered three words...
Peace be still, and Ophelia’s sea was a calm sea.
Thank you Lord.
A few weeks ago we stood around her bed at the hospital and prayed that God would intervene and extend her life a few more days...
And He did. She got to visit with her children, Mac, David and Shelly, and her brother Charles. She enjoyed another Easter Sunday with her family and church. She came to worship. She watched her grandchildren hide Easter eggs from her front porch.
Praise God for the power of His presence.
We can be thankful for God’s promises.
Let not your hearts be troubled. You believe in God, believe also in Me. In my Father's house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going to prepare a place for you. If I go to prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me... I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. Nothing helps comfort us in times like these more than the promised hope of a home in heaven. Jesus believed in, taught and promised heaven for those who would make Him their way, their
truth, and their life.
The second promise is that there will be a reunion. This is not all there is to life and living. Jesus told Mary and Martha,
I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in me will never die. You see, the family and friendship circle does not have to be broken. We can all live in such a way that when resurrection morning dawns: we will enjoy meeting and greeting one another again. We will enjoy an eternal reunion. Our challenge is to live in such a way as to guarantee the happiness of this event.
Yes, even though our hearts are broken in Ophelia’s passing, we can be thankful for:
God’s presence, His power and His promises. Take these words of comfort with you and use them often.
Now we honor Ophelia with the words of Solomon.
A wife of noble character who can find? She is worth far more than rubies. Her husband has full confidence in her and lacks nothing of real value. She brings him good and never harm, all the days of her life. She selects wool and flax and works with eager hands. She is like the merchant ships, bringing her food from afar. She gets up while it is still dark; She provides food for her family. She considers a field and buys it; out of her earnings she plants a vineyard. She sets about her work vigorously; her arms are strong for her tasks. She sees that her trading is profitable, and her lamp does not go out at night. She opens her arms to the poor and extends her hands to the needy. When it snows, she has no fear for her household; for all of them are clothed in scarlet. She makes coverings for her bed; she is clothed in fine linen and purple. Her husband is respected. She is clothed with strength and dignity; She can laugh at the days to come. She speaks with wisdom, and faithful instruction to her children. She watches over the affairs of her household and never eats the bread of idleness. Her children arise and call her blessed; Her husband praises her always. Many women do noble things, but you surpass them all. Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised. Give her the reward she has earned, and let her works bring her praise.
Yes, the Ophelia we remember was a good woman, a noble woman of character.
—Randall Caselman
