I called her “Mil”, short for Mother In Law. She was a big part of my life, especially the last 8 years since our family moved back from New Mexico and began to take care of her. She died at 3:30 am, September 2nd. We were at her side, and it was peaceful. At 96 she could still remember “hearing the whistles go off at the end of World War l.” What a life.
Martha Petersen, June 25, 1916 – September 2, 2012
Martha Brady Petersen was used by God to teach me many things, including the importance of honesty, boldness, joy, freedom, and surrender. That last quality was one which did not come easy for her, however; it is hard for many of us. Growing up as an only child with a doting father, it took a long time for her to surrender her life to God. She entered marriage as a churchgoer but not a wholehearted follower of Jesus. Later in life, her husband Kendall came to Christ, then her son, and then her daughter (Lisa). Even after Lisa and I married, I could tell she held people at a distance who talked about absolute surrender to the living God.
When she finally “got it” and completely yielded her life to Christ, she discovered the “fullness of joy” mentioned in Psalm 16, which she’d never known before. I remember a time a number of years ago that I came home to find her alone but beaming. When I inquired as to the source of her delight, I learned that she’d been spending time with Jesus in His Word and could hardly contain herself. The “nearness of God is my good” Psalm 73 also says. Martha learned that.
The significance of full surrender to Jesus so impacted her that she even included it in her memorial service. Martha left specific instructions that everyone who left her service was to receive a helium balloon which, after prayerful reflection, was to be symbolically filled with anything that God did not want in our lives (anger, bitterness, jealously, prejudice, etc.). Then, when we were each ready, we surrendered to God what was “inside” as we released our balloons. What a sight as these balloons soared heavenward and as many, including myself, felt a new joy and the release that comes from yielding anew to the King of Kings and Lord of Lords.
How about you? Is there anything in your life that you feel you have not given over to God? Is there anything that you’ve held on to too tightly and you know is not pleasing to Him or healthy for you? If so, yield it up today. Go buy a balloon, if you have to, and feel the lift as you surrender your life afresh to the one who made you. You’ll never regret it. I know I don’t.
Again, we thank you for all your support, both in finances and prayer. I’ve much to share with you about how God is working at this time through Our Little Market and Showlights, but that will have to wait for the next Post.
