Tuesday, October 6, 2009
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Monday, October 5, 2009
Saturday, October 3, 2009
A Memorial of the Spirit
What follows is the script I wrote to eulogize Mom on September 20th.
My name is James Crockett. I am Mimi’s son. I am married to Lynette Crockett, and we have two children, Corinne and Andrew, both college students. I’m going to tell you about my Mother’s spiritual journey, by telling you a few short stories about her, myself, and our family.
The Crockett-Miller Spiritual family began, as I know it, at St. James by the Sea Episcopal Church, in La Jolla, where Mom sang in the Sr. Choir, and where her ashes will be interred on October 10th. On Sundays, I was ushered across the street along with a few of my cousins and the other young children to the church hall. There we learned to pray and sing, and I learned that “Jesus Loves the Little Children,” –God loves me? I pondered—what comforting knowledge! -thanks to Mom, my Grandmother, and my Aunts, who by some miracle got us to St. James every Sunday.
After Dad married Mom at St. James in March 1964, we moved to Whittier, where we attended St. Matthias. One fall morning, while we were driving to church, she told me that I was to join the Acolyte Guild, and, by the way, Acolyte training started next Saturday morning. I went into an absolute panic because my elementary school football team played its games on Saturday mornings. Mom, who was not afraid to wield her authority at key moments, insisted I join nevertheless. And with Dad looking at me sternly through the rear-view mirror, I knew I was done for. ..But thanks to Mom, not for long. On Saturday, she drove me to my football game, from the football game to acolyte training, and back home again, and did the same drive every Saturday until the training was over—sometimes she would drive home and back again during the training to take care of chores--it was a ten mile drive from our house into Whittier where school and church were!
As it turned out, I didn’t miss a game… I was an acolyte for seven years, and served as the director of the guild for two years. It was as an acolyte that I memorized and internalized The Lord’s Prayer, the Nicene Creed, and the Liturgy of the Lord’s Supper. This spiritual training has been my grounding and my lifeline ever since. The Lord was with me as a young child, through my, shall we say, wilder years, my darkest moments, and my greatest achievements-- thanks to Mom.
In the meantime, she brought Dad and many others to the Lord. She started the North Whittier Prayer Group, recruiting her best friend and next-door-neighbor Carol Ray Blake, along with Marie Crosby, Donna Tarman, and a host of others. Our Pastor, Fr. Jenkins came to the weekly prayer meetings, and as family, we grew comfortable in the company of the clergy. Fr. Jenkins was a kind and spirited man who celebrated the Lord’s Supper with reverence and joy, and even helped me get a college scholarship.
The lives that have been touched and the souls that have been saved by the exponential spreading of the Gospel through that little prayer group in Whittier are countless.
About twenty years ago, Mom and Dad found Emmanuel and moved to La Habra. Emmanuel has become the spiritual home base for our extended family. As of today, all of Mimi’s children and grandchildren have attended church here. I have personally experienced The Holy Spirit in generous portions here.
“We are standing on Holy Ground,” and “God is with us”--Right Now.
Mom pushed the spiritual pedal to the floorboards in her last decades. She has a way of spreading God’s love that cannot be denied. She was a true servant who had a gift for one-on-one exhortation, empathy, and healing.
She did not shy away from those in trouble, sorrow, or grief. When my father-in-law died suddenly several years ago, she called my mother-in-law, who lives in Chicago, to comfort and pray with her. She has counseled each of her children’s spouses at one time or another. And I’d be willing to bet that she counseled with a large number of people in this room tonight.
She served in the church as well as in the world: she was a Daughter of the King, A Choir Member, a Lector, a Lay Eucharistic Minister, a member of the Larche community, and a leader in the Curcillo movement...and several other things I have long forgotten.
She captured the love and admiration of people everywhere she went: We celebrated my 50th and her 70th birthday together at our home in Carlsbad four years ago. Her Spirit-filled speech brought everyone to laughter and tears that night. I don’t know how many times I’ve heard the words “I love your Mom!”
Mom leaves behind a legacy of empathy, love, and saved souls. The depth of her love was overwhelming. She loved everyone in the family unconditionally; it didn’t matter how badly you blundered, she forgave you, loved you, and helped you heal. I looked forward to her greeting every Easter morning: “The Lord is risen!” And my reply “He is risen indeed,” and we would exclaim in unison “Alleluia!(Alleluia, alleluia!)”
I will close here with verse from the Book of Revelation, Chapter 21: “And I saw the Holy City, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, made ready as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a great voice out of the throne saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he shall dwell with them, and they shall be his peoples…and he shall wipe away every tear from their eyes; and death shall be no more…”
And Mom is there now, dancing on the streets of Gold!
Thank You
My name is James Crockett. I am Mimi’s son. I am married to Lynette Crockett, and we have two children, Corinne and Andrew, both college students. I’m going to tell you about my Mother’s spiritual journey, by telling you a few short stories about her, myself, and our family.
The Crockett-Miller Spiritual family began, as I know it, at St. James by the Sea Episcopal Church, in La Jolla, where Mom sang in the Sr. Choir, and where her ashes will be interred on October 10th. On Sundays, I was ushered across the street along with a few of my cousins and the other young children to the church hall. There we learned to pray and sing, and I learned that “Jesus Loves the Little Children,” –God loves me? I pondered—what comforting knowledge! -thanks to Mom, my Grandmother, and my Aunts, who by some miracle got us to St. James every Sunday.
After Dad married Mom at St. James in March 1964, we moved to Whittier, where we attended St. Matthias. One fall morning, while we were driving to church, she told me that I was to join the Acolyte Guild, and, by the way, Acolyte training started next Saturday morning. I went into an absolute panic because my elementary school football team played its games on Saturday mornings. Mom, who was not afraid to wield her authority at key moments, insisted I join nevertheless. And with Dad looking at me sternly through the rear-view mirror, I knew I was done for. ..But thanks to Mom, not for long. On Saturday, she drove me to my football game, from the football game to acolyte training, and back home again, and did the same drive every Saturday until the training was over—sometimes she would drive home and back again during the training to take care of chores--it was a ten mile drive from our house into Whittier where school and church were!
As it turned out, I didn’t miss a game… I was an acolyte for seven years, and served as the director of the guild for two years. It was as an acolyte that I memorized and internalized The Lord’s Prayer, the Nicene Creed, and the Liturgy of the Lord’s Supper. This spiritual training has been my grounding and my lifeline ever since. The Lord was with me as a young child, through my, shall we say, wilder years, my darkest moments, and my greatest achievements-- thanks to Mom.
In the meantime, she brought Dad and many others to the Lord. She started the North Whittier Prayer Group, recruiting her best friend and next-door-neighbor Carol Ray Blake, along with Marie Crosby, Donna Tarman, and a host of others. Our Pastor, Fr. Jenkins came to the weekly prayer meetings, and as family, we grew comfortable in the company of the clergy. Fr. Jenkins was a kind and spirited man who celebrated the Lord’s Supper with reverence and joy, and even helped me get a college scholarship.
The lives that have been touched and the souls that have been saved by the exponential spreading of the Gospel through that little prayer group in Whittier are countless.
About twenty years ago, Mom and Dad found Emmanuel and moved to La Habra. Emmanuel has become the spiritual home base for our extended family. As of today, all of Mimi’s children and grandchildren have attended church here. I have personally experienced The Holy Spirit in generous portions here.
“We are standing on Holy Ground,” and “God is with us”--Right Now.
Mom pushed the spiritual pedal to the floorboards in her last decades. She has a way of spreading God’s love that cannot be denied. She was a true servant who had a gift for one-on-one exhortation, empathy, and healing.
She did not shy away from those in trouble, sorrow, or grief. When my father-in-law died suddenly several years ago, she called my mother-in-law, who lives in Chicago, to comfort and pray with her. She has counseled each of her children’s spouses at one time or another. And I’d be willing to bet that she counseled with a large number of people in this room tonight.
She served in the church as well as in the world: she was a Daughter of the King, A Choir Member, a Lector, a Lay Eucharistic Minister, a member of the Larche community, and a leader in the Curcillo movement...and several other things I have long forgotten.
She captured the love and admiration of people everywhere she went: We celebrated my 50th and her 70th birthday together at our home in Carlsbad four years ago. Her Spirit-filled speech brought everyone to laughter and tears that night. I don’t know how many times I’ve heard the words “I love your Mom!”
Mom leaves behind a legacy of empathy, love, and saved souls. The depth of her love was overwhelming. She loved everyone in the family unconditionally; it didn’t matter how badly you blundered, she forgave you, loved you, and helped you heal. I looked forward to her greeting every Easter morning: “The Lord is risen!” And my reply “He is risen indeed,” and we would exclaim in unison “Alleluia!(Alleluia, alleluia!)”
I will close here with verse from the Book of Revelation, Chapter 21: “And I saw the Holy City, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, made ready as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a great voice out of the throne saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he shall dwell with them, and they shall be his peoples…and he shall wipe away every tear from their eyes; and death shall be no more…”
And Mom is there now, dancing on the streets of Gold!
Thank You
Friday, October 2, 2009
Thursday, October 1, 2009
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