Well today we learned some sad and happy news for our family. Cheryl's great Aunt Lucille Cooper went home to be the Lord this morning a little after 6:00 a.m. central time at the ripe old age of 103. It's sad for our family because all of us loved "Aunt Cille" as we called her. She had lived with Cheryl's parents for a number of years after her husband Uncle Dick passed away. On the other hand, this news is happy because Psalm 116:15 says "Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of His saints." I preached that text at Grandmother Cotten's funeral who was Aunt Cille's sister and Cheryl's grandmother. It applies to Aunt Lucille as well because she had placed her faith in the Lord Jesus Christ years ago and she was ready to meet Jesus.
She lived a wonderful life and though Aunt Cille had no children of her own, she loved us all like we were her kids. She was a young woman - not in age but in attitude. She gave up her driver's license when she was in her 90's and when she was in her 70's she drove a red Pontiac Firebird. I remember once when we were in South Texas for a visit and we were trying to get Aunt Cille to go with us to the mall and she didn't want to go because it would have been hard to walk around a long time. We tried to convince her we'd push her around in a wheel chair and she flatly refused because as she put it, "It would make her look old." We were all cracking up because we were thinking "Aunt Cille, you're nearly 100 years old - you are old!" Aunt Cille used to walk around Mom & Dad Wychopen's house in a pair of little pump shoes even when she had to started using a walker. She wanted Mom Wychopen to get her hair fixed, her make up and lipstick on so she'd be presentable when my father in law Hal came home from work. I remember she had beautiful hands and routinely wore red nail polish on her manicured nails. She was a constant fixture and blessing to our entire family at family gatherings. She stay up with us and just do what we loved to do most, hang out together. She'd quietly listen and interact with us until she couldn't stay up - she'd bid us all goodnight and retire to her room. I remember my kids all greeting her and giving her a hug on our arrivals from a 4 day drive from New Hampshire to south Texas. I also remember the many tears we'd all shed having to say goodbye to "Momo & Papa" and Aunt Cille for the long journey back north, wondering aloud in most cases if that would be the last time we'd see Aunt Cille this side of heaven.
I know it's sad for my beloved in-laws Hal & Carol because they've faithfully cared for Aunt Cille the same way they did for Carol's mom Grandmother Cotten having them both living in their home for many years. My father in law Hal built a garage and apartment that was home for both Grandmother and Aunt Cille at various points along the journey. Aunt Cille and Grandmother Cotten both had the sweet disposition of a Proverbs 31 woman and it was evident those sisters were filled with the Holy Spirit and they loved the Lord. Aunt Cille would ponder why the Lord didn't just take her home because she outlived all of her friends and almost all her immediate family.
Well Aunt Cille, you need not wonder any longer, the Lord has carried you safely home. I'm not sure but I have a feeling that your neighbor in your new heavenly mansion is your beloved sister Aileen. I can picture the Lord Jesus himself escorting you on one arm and Aileen on the other, with Uncle Dick and Grandpa Royal walking behind you with great anticipation to see your reaction on your first tour of Heaven. You've finished the race here on earth and you've joined the cloud of witnesses the writer of Hebrews told us about. Well done Aunt Lucille! We love you and we'll miss you, but our sorrow is not like those who have no hope because of Jesus. Would you do me a favor? Would you hug the Savior for me? Would you hug Addison for me and tell her that "Pops" is thankful she's safe with Jesus? Maybe you can meet my grandparents and tell them all hello as well. Have fun in worship with the heavenly throng singing praises to Jesus and give Uncle Dick the responsibility for saving the rest of us seats....
We love you Aunt Cille! Pastor Ralph Green
Senior Pastor, Calvary Baptist Church www.calvarybelair.com
Senior Pastor, Calvary Baptist Church www.calvarybelair.com
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