a sermon

for Janet Sourwine

 

 

 

John 14:2-3:

Janet was a good woman. A good woman who lived a long and full life.

She had a strong will, as her family will tell you.

 

And it is a good thing she had a strong will, too.

Her determination served her well during her life.

Yes Janet may have worked at Sterzings for a while, but most of her life she was a homemaker.

As we all know, caring for children, keeping the house in order and preparing all the meals is a daunting task for anyone.

So it was in the midst of the day to day of cooking, cleaning and so much more that Janet's strong will accomplished the work for the day, so she could create a home for her husband and son, Chuck.

Yes, Janet was good at making a home for others.

And it should be said, she made a home not only for her family. She also made a home for her pets.

Janet loved all animals, especially cats.

In fact, because Janet loved to tell stories, we know that at one time she had a lamb for a pet.

Yes, a lamb.

This was a lamb that no one thought would live, but Janet with her determination and ability to make a home for others, nursed that lamb to health.

After that lamb was healthy, Janet continued to care for that lamb as a pet.

Janet was a good homemaker.

Her determination served her well in her vocation, empowering her to create a safe and warm place, a home, for her family, others and even animals.

And still, when Janet decided she could no longer live by herself and moved to the Burlington Care Center, she continued to create a home, to be a homemaker.

Even at this new place, among the staff, Janet created a home for others.

Whenever I visited her I was blessed by her kindness and hospitality. At the Burlington Care Center, a place I had never been, Janet made me feel welcomed, she made me feel at home, she created a home there.

Yes, in any circumstances Janet was able to carve out a home.

It is in light of Janet's ability to create homes, it is fitting that we remember Jesus says he goes before all of us to his father's mansion to prepare a place for us.

Janet who now rests in God's love, gets to continue her rest.

Now as she approaches that blessed mansion, she finds that indeed Jesus did go before her and Jesus did prepare a place for her.

Yes, now that determination that many loved Janet for and that she used so lovingly to create a home for others, may be put to rest because her Lord and savior has gone before her to prepare a place for her already...

I have a story...

That last time I visited Janet, only a little over a week ago - Thursday last - Janet said something to me.

She said she wanted to go home.

Janet said she wanted to go home; and it was clear that she was restless to get there.

Even then Janet's determination was at work. Janet was ready to go home.

Janet was ready to meet the one who is so good at the kind of work Janet was good at - homemaking.

Janet was ready.

And it wasn't much longer until she did go home.

Janet was ready.

And when she got home, she found that Jesus was ready for her, too.

Janet found that, indeed, Jesus had gone before her.

She found that, indeed, Jesus had prepared a place for her.

She found that, indeed, Jesus was ready for her even as she was ready to get home herself...

Now Janet rests.

Now Janet is at home.

Now Janet may put her determination aside, because her other gifts are needed.

Yes, Janet was good at making homes for others.

She enjoyed games and telling stories.

Now she uses those talents and her love to enjoy the place our Lord and savior prepared for her.

Yes, now Janet gets to enjoy working with the one who was ready for her, to prepare rooms for others.

Even now Janet's gift of homemaking is put to use by the one who was ready for her, by the one who prepared a room for her, by the one who claims her - who claims us all.

Amen