The Sutherland Family

Our dear Mother and Mamaw Jeannette went peacefully in her sleep to be with her lord early Thursday morning. Little things that she did the day before let us know that she knew it was her time. She had taken all of her pictures and drawings that had been given to her off the refrigerator and placed them in a keep chest in her bedroom. She kept little things things she wanted to hold on to there. She had been battleling health problems for some time and it's a comfort to know that she went to sleep listening to one of her bible tapes and was at home among her personal things that meant the most to her.

Only one other time can I remember feeling this kind of loss. The separation from one's Mother is unique within itself. It was the day that we said our goodbyes as I was leaving for the Navy. A Mother and a Son that had not been separated since birth grieved for one another and the loss was great. She would write 8 and 12 page letters front and back telling me how things were back home but mostly telling me about the Lord and how she counted on him to keep me safe. Those old letters were a comfort to me and still are especially right now. She worried and prayed many nights until I came back home for good several years later. I can recall many situations during that time where I know that Gods mercy and Mommy's prayers kept me safe.

Mommy had a hard life growing up. She lost her mother and she was buried on Moms 3rd birthday. I don't believe she ever really got over the loss of not having her mother. Mom had her Step Mother Estell who always managed to keep them a home somewhere. Mom loved Estell dearly and was always grafeful to her. As a child mom and her family moved from place to place and she never really had a stable home life but I believe it made her understand what it meant to have a home and she over compensated with us for her loss. I remember the nights she would pray by my bedside when I was sick and trusted in the Lord to make me well and I remember the prayers she prayed in private for the Lord to watch over her children when she thought I wasn't listening.

Mommy never had much in this life and so it was the little things that always made her happy. She loved to cook and try new foods. She would try eating anything at least once and it didn't matter if it was wild or just unusual. Steak and seafood were her favorite. She had recently come to enjoy chinese food very much. One of my greatest joys was to listen to her describe a restaurant and something that she had just eaten. She cherished nature and loved a good walk in the mountains looking for mushrooms or picking poke salad but mostly is was to talk with God. She loved plants and flowers and seemed to be able to grow anything without much effort. When she was well we would walk around her front yard and on the hill side and she would show me what had come up. Maybe it was something she had ordered from a plant magazine or sometimes they would send something that wasn't what she'd ordered. she would plant it anyway and be amazed at how it would grow.

When she could no longer get outside she loved the sound of wind blowing through chimes and watching birds eat from her back porch. She found a blessing in everything that God made and our talks about these things would always spark a song. I can hear her singing:

Consider the lilies they don’t toil nor spin and there’s not a king with more splendor than them. Consider the sparrow they don’t plant or sow,

But they’re fed by the Master who watches them grow. We have a Heavenly Father above, With eyes full of mercy And a heart full of love. He really cares when

Your head is bowed low, Consider the lilies and then you will know. Now may I introduce you to this friend of mine,

who hangs out the stars and tells the sun when to shine and kisses the flowers each morning with dew, but He’s not too busy to care about you.

(Matthew 6:25)

Mommy loved visitors and especially from her children and grandchildren. When I would call her on the phone she would have a story to tell about one of the grandchildren and she kept every coloring picture and everything they made her in school. What I sometimes saw as clutter were precious momentos to her from those she loved most. She sat at the same place in her kitchen at the table looking out the sliding glass doors. Her eyes were bad but she could maybe make out the color of your car and say "I thought that might be you" She definatley knew the sound of your voice. Many times I would pull into the drive way and it looked as if she had sat there the whole time I had been away just waiting for my return. She always fed us whatever she had to offer. Many times she would kindly ask me if I was hungry as she was setting in front of me a plate of food or a glass of milk. I always would say no as if declining was an option.

The services were beautiful and Mom was buried beside her mother in the family cemetary in Kentucky. The abundance of people that came to pay their respects was a reflection of how much she was loved. She was a wonderful Mother, Grandmother and friend but mostly she was known for the 40 years that she walked with God. She loved her Church and her Sisters and Brothers in the church. Never did she pass up an opportunity to tell you about the Lord and what he had done for her. When her health failed and she couldn't go out she would sometimes say "I'm just not able enough to do much for the Lord anymore" But God knew different and sent them to her by the means of home health. Some of the nurses would come and stay a few weeks and some only days and while she would always say that she didn't understand why they kept sending her so many, She never let one leave without telling them what the Lord had done for her and what he could do for them.

She was met with many trials on her life's Journey from losing her sisters and brothers, her precious sons and then her marriage. but she overcome each and every one to only make her stronger. I believe her life was a testament to show us that yes we can overcome anything with the help of the Lord.

Even though I can't even bear the thought of never hearing her voice sing the praises of the Lord and her loss seems more than I can comprehend I take comfort in the fact that I know I can get through this. Why? because Mommy walked this path before me to show me that it could be done and as a result she was a much stronger person and much closer to God.

Mom was the most giving person and many times I would find her with no money or food because she had given the last of what she had to someone who needed it. Sometimes it was me. We would always debate on who needed it most and for some reason I always lost. She would say " God will make a way for us both" and he always did. When her generosity caused her problems to the point of almost losing her home I would become upset and we would have words. She always knew how to settle any disagreement with a song:

" This world is not my home I'm just a passing through my treasures are laid up somewhere beyond the blue........ She was right and now she's in a place where she feels no more sorrow and no more pain and she's calls her mansion in heaven home. Right now I'm certain that she's down by the river of life because that's where Aunt Flo told her that she would be waiting. I know they're shouting and rejoicing that yes they made it, victory is sweet and Heaven is beyond anything they ever could have imagined.

below are a few songs that mom wrote and sang:

No Detours

Sometimes I get weary, sometimes i feel low, then I hear Jesus whisper, It's a straight and narow road, there's no detours on this highway, No stopping place down here, so I just keep on traveling, for I know my home is near.

Now there's heartaches, troubles and trials, on lifes road to overcome, but there's a robe and crown awaiting just after he says well done, then I remember in revelation, It's all there for me to see, Oh what glory, glory, glory, chapter twenty-one and three.

(Tag-talk)

And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will drell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God

And God will wipe away all tears for their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: For the former things are passed away.

Written by Jeannette

What Side of The River

We'll soon be parted from this world below, across deaths river we'll all have to go, one side will be Heaven the other fire and brimstone, What side of the river are you going to live on.

(Chorus)

Now You can't blame Jesus if you don't make it right, He's standing ready to save you tonight, make your own decision but don't wait too long what side of the river are you going to live on.

There will be a great gulf that you can't get across, One side for the saved, one side for the lost; one side will be heaven, the other fire and brimstone, what side of the river are you going to live on.

We all have friends here, but they'll be left behind, sinner or sinner won't you make up your mind and turn to Jesus for time can't last long. What side of the river are you going to live on.

Written by Jeannette

This song Mom loved but could never find all the words so her and Aunt Flo sat down and wrote their own words. This song has been a blessing to many people.

Hold on to the Plow

(Chorus)