A Tribute

A Benedictory Sermon
Delivered by Parish Hartley
February 12, 2012

Jeanne Ann and I met Jill and her family in March 2005 as the Father prepared us to leave the comforts of the pastorate for the unknowns of the mission field. As part of our visioning and finalizing our move we visited in Helena. While here we stayed with Jill and Rick and enjoyed their hospitality. Subsequently, we learned that Jeanne Ann and Jill were double half cousins twice removed on their fathers’ sides or some such thing as that. Whatever their earthly relation, which I cannot with certainty unravel, I know they are sisters on their heavenly Father’s side and are joint-heirs with Jesus Christ!

The name Jill, according to some, comes from Latin and means “sweetheart” or “youthful.”

I begin by mentioning her sweetheart in the person of Rick. The two are inseparable. I have on occasion called them Jick and Rill. It even sort of has a ring to it. If Rick would stand up and say a few words about Jill, I am assured that his speech would be replete with praise for Jill’s great qualities as a wife, mother, business woman, and so on. The Bible tells us, “He that finds a wife finds an good thing and obtains favor with the Lord.” No doubt, Rick is a blessed man.

She also has some sweethearts in her two cuties, Morgan and Cole. You can look at these two well-behaved young people and tell the kind of parents from which they spring. The mother stands as the backbone of the family and the molder and shaper of the children. The dad plays an important role, but the mother holds a special place by our heavenly Father’s design. Some unknown sage wrote:

The formative period for building character for eternity is in the nursery. The mother is queen of that realm and sways a scepter more potent than that of kings or priests.

Jill’s skill in this area need not be defended; her record sits beside her here tonight.

Also, she possess a sweet heart. By this I mean, she has a God-given disposition that people recognize as being gentle and kind. Some of these qualities go back to her DNA which her parents bequeathed to her. Another part of it goes beyond mere genetics. Indeed, she is a Godly woman who fears the Lord and desires to walk with Him. In Ezekiel 36:26 we read, “I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh.” The Bible teaches that a person’s heart is by nature like a stone; but our Father, through his matchless grace, removes the stony heart and gives the believing sinner a heart of flesh. This experience turns sour hearts to sweet and cold hearts to warm by the Holy Spirit’s power. Jill demonstrates this transformation through her walk with Christ and work for Christ.

Jill reminds me of the Old Testament character Ruth the Moabitess. Ruth means “friendship” in Hebrew and Jill’s friendship means so much to us! Clinging to Naomi and Naomi’s God, Ruth said, “Intreat me not to leave thee, or to return from following after thee: for whither thou goest, I will go; and where thou lodgest, I will lodge: thy people shall be my people, and thy God my God” (Ruth 1:16). Yahweh blessed Ruth because she posited her faith and trust in the Living God of Israel. As a result, generations up to this present hour experience a salvific blessing; the name Ruth prominently appears in the genealogy of our Savior. May our Father be pleased to bless Jill, her family, and her progeny because she dared to stand with us in this great ongoing adventure of faith.

In Jesus’ Name, Amen.