Mom's Testimony

Taking a break from our regularly-schedule Mercy message... ;)  A few days ago, I shared some of my grief over Mom. I think it is only appropriate that I share the Good News she shared too.

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Both my sister and I spoke at my Mother's funeral. Suzanne spoke eloquently about Mom's legacy and I spoke (not as eloquently) about Mom's testimony. I want to share with you now what I shared at the funeral -- not because I wrote it. Not even because it is about Mom. I want to share it with you because of what Mom's testimony says about Jesus Christ. She would want you to hear the Message too.


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In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through him, and without him was not anything made that was made. In him was life, and the life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. (John 1)

Claris Shaw spent her life teaching her children about the Word. She taught us that Jesus was our friend, our salvation, and our refuge. She taught us that He was the Truth that would set us free.

In January of 2011, Mom started reading a 365-day Bible. She read every day, no matter what else was going on. On Feb. 5th, a stroke attacked the communication center in her brain. Her ability to speak, to comprehend, and to read was deeply affected. She lost memories. She lost vocabulary. She lost speech skills. She lost whole concepts.

The one thing that did not leave her was the Word of God and her love for it. A dear, dear friend would come to read the Word to Claris several days a week. Even when she was in pain or disturbed, calm would come over her as the Word was being read. Even with the loss of memories she still remembered passages that she loved and requested them. There was no power, illness, or tragedy that could steal the Word from her. Even after she had her second stoke, even after she was sedated, the Word was read to her and at each reading it was a peace that came over her. She had true faith in the WORD. The Bible says in both the Old and New Testaments that the Lord will never leave us nor forsake us. Jesus, the Word who spoke her into being, never left my Mom. This is the testimony of Claris Shaw. The Word is Truth. The Word is Life.