Smiles, laughter and love…but the greatest of these is love.
This could be my mother’s revised version of the famous faith, hope and love Bible verse. Every condolence card we received contained these words to describe her.
Faith. The smile on her face radiating from within. Faith shows the reality of what we hope for. The Bible says faith is believing without seeing. It is the evidence and assurance of things we cannot see. Mom’s smile was greater than any outward sign of ALS during her last six years with us. She beamed whenever she recognized someone who entered the room or crossed her path. Her hugs were so tight when we’d come home to visit. Her light was always so inspiring, especially to those who knew the physical challenges she endured. She met each day with a positive greeting.
Hope. The heartiness of her laugh. Come what may, mom was still going to have a prank to play. Life was never that serious to miss making life so much fun. No doubt you got the emails, the written notes on her board and the text messages. But as silly as it may have gotten sometimes, she instilled a hope of endurance. One time she wrote “you need a sense of humor otherwise you’ll go nuts.” We also saw mom’s hope in her heart-felt prayers, genuine thoughtfulness and constant care for us. She led us to believing all things were possible.
Love. Love was the greatest force in mom’s life. Her deep devotion to family kept us all strongly united. It is the reason some of you here have known mom for decades and you came today to remember her. Mom’s love was more infectious than any disease could ever be. Without question, the true picture of love as God wanted for us was painted before my eyes anytime I would see mom and dad together. These two were truly joined as one –they did life together daily for more than 50 years. There just is no greater love than that except God Himself who is love.
We are here today to thank God for blessing our lives with a wife, a sister, a mother, a grandmother, an aunt, a godmother, a dear friend and a sweet neighbor in Marie Cuttita. This should make us smile, triggering the memories of the times she made us all laugh. But most of all we have had a taste of Heaven by personally experiencing her love for us. That is an eternal flame we’ll find comfort in until we see her again.
Smiles, laughter and love.
So faith, hope, love remain, these three; but the greatest of these is love. Paul’s first letter to the Corinthians Chapter 13 verse 13.
Thank you for coming to God’s house today in honor of my mother.
