Navajo, New Mexico
Encouragement for the Generations
by Louise Lee
She was a very special person to me. God took this wonderful woman home with Him. She was our mother, Marie Antonio. She was 96 years old. I felt very badly that she
was taken from me. Nevertheless, I am very happy that she is with the Lord. I know we
have hope that someday we will reunite together with her and the Lord in Heaven.
I am a person of faith. I believe in the Lord Jesus as my Savior. Mother was a guiding light in my spiritual growth. I was encouraged by her faith. Our entire family was influenced by her faith. Her testimony was beautiful. She always encouraged us with God’s Word and always prayed for us and with us.
I find encouragement in Paul’s words to Timothy when I feel the void of my mother’s
death: “I have been reminded of your sincere faith, which first lived in your grandmother Lois and in your mother Eunice and, I am persuaded, now lives in you also. For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands. For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline.” (2 Timothy 1:5-7) Paul encouraged Timothy not to give up his Christian faith. Why? To encourage others. It goes along family lines. Others are looking to us for help, to be encouraged in their faith as they struggle with their Christian life.
My mom would be proud of us knowing we are keeping the faith she taught us so sincerely. I can hear her say, “Keep going, be encouraged, keep the faith, continue on without me because others are encouraged by you!”
My mother’s last request of us was to have faith in the Lord — to be a family that serves the Lord and lives for Him until He takes us to be home with Him.