Tabitha Trophy Case

Before you get into this blog I wanted to explain how it is written. Once you get through the blog you will understand why this is necessary. The words in blue font were written by Elise, and the words in red font were written by Amber. 

Tabitha Trophy Case

In Acts 9:36-42 we read about a lady name Tabitha. She had died, and Peter was nearby. So, he went to Joppa. When Peter got to the house where Tabitha was, he was met by many widows showing him all the things Tabitha had made for them. See, she was known for her “good works and charitable deeds.” Peter did raise this woman from the dead, but what I want to notice about this story is what she left behind. Tabitha left behind evidence of her good works. So what can we learn about this woman? What value can we gain? Notice the widows. To deal with their grief they showed Peter what she had done for them. They remembered her good works. What does this mean for us? When someone passes from this life how do we cope with their death? How do we move on? How do we stop the hurt? We build a “Tabitha Trophy Case” for our loved one. In other words, we take memories of their life and good works and we share those with you. So in a way we are displaying these good works in a “trophy case.” Of course, no one should live a life of good deeds as a way to build their own “trophy case.” However, we as their loved ones, should share their legacy, legacies that glorify GOD! We’d like to open up our “Tabitha Trophy Cases” to you, evidence of the good works left behind by Neva Jo Smith (Nana Jo) and Mary Virginia Minson (Grandma). Maybe this will help someone out there start a sharing the legacy of their loved one, maybe this will help us to push forward and be more thankful for the lives they lived instead of sad that they’re gone, more than anything our prayer is that these memories will help someone learn how to better serve God and give Him all glory and praise.

Neva Jo Smith, Nana Jo

What can be said about a woman that touched so many lives? What words can I use to describe a woman that raised my best friend IN THE LORD, a woman that opened her home and her heart to me, a woman that really just wanted to serve the Lord and help everyone around her do the same?! Virtuous, hospitable, wise, loving, kind, Christian, these are just a few words that describe sweet Nana Jo. She reminds me of the Shunammite woman in II Kings 4:8-10, so hospitable that she wanted an extra room built on for the prophet of God. If you were ever passing through Lindsay, Oklahoma and needed a place to stay, you need only make 1 phone call...Nana Jo. She had beds to spare, and yes, she had an extra, private room including a private bathroom and separate entrance. I remember when that room was built, the initial purpose to house a soldier’s wife and new baby (just happened to be Amber Nae and Sam), but her hope was that traveling evangelists could stay there. She wanted to offer a comfortable place with the private accommodations preachers so often need. I tear up just thinking about that. What a wonderful example! So many people think a woman’s job in the church is small and meaningless. Not Nana Jo! Hospitality is no little thing, it’s important. Just ask any of the hungry travelers that left her home full of food and full of love. I know she fed me about a thousand times, and gave me a place to stay. She extended hospitality to me even when I wasn’t with Amber. I never doubted her sincere love for me and everyone she met. I miss her greatly. She was a great example, an honorary grandmother, a spunky, fun, amazing woman, and the “trophy case” her family is filling for her is crammed full of “good works and charitable deeds.”

Mary Virginia Minson, Grandma

I guess the hardest part of filling Grandma’s “trophy case” is just dealing with the fact that I have to; she’s not here anymore. I feel like one of the widows in the story about Tabitha, just sitting here crying wanting to show people how amazing she was. But every time I hold out a memory and open my mouth to tell the story, tears just flow. The worst part? She spent all of my life loving me, showing me the love of Christ, and abundant strength. What did I do? I wasted most of my time with her thinking I was too cool to listen to her or complaining that she was too annoying to have around. It’s so ironic the way things happen in life. Grandma turned out to be one of my best friends. In the last couple of years she was my go to. When I was upset, who did I call? Grandma. When I needed support? Grandma. When I needed to just cry? Grandma. When I needed someone to pray with me and for me? Grandma! She was a living example of Gal. 6:2. She bore my burdens with me, she helped shoulder the load. One day I was really down; so, I called Grandma, just wanting to get my mind busy on something else, someone else. After only a few minutes, she says, “What’s wrong? You’re upset. You tell me what’s going on.” Next thing I know, I’m crying saying I just don’t know what to do, don’t have the strength to keep dealing with all the things plaguing my health. Her answer? It was simple, “Listen up! We’re gonna pray right now. You just listen up.” For those that knew Grandma, I’m sure you can hear her saying “listen up.” She always had something to say...one of the things that use to annoy me. Yet, as a teenager if I had stopped listening to the sound of my own voice long enough to listen to hers, I would have realized her answers were always followed up with scripture. She took the example of Jesus being tempted in Matth. 4:1-11 to heart. Every time satan tempted Jesus, He answered with scripture. Therefore, every time Grandma was faced with a problem in life, she went straight to her Bible and found the answer. Grandma knew there was no question the Bible, the word of GOD, couldn’t answer. I just miss calling her. Somehow she was always available, even while she was in the hospital. She always answered, she always answered, she always answered!

One of the last things Grandma said, “God’s family is a blessing, and I love them all.” As I was trying to decide which memory to share next, which example of her good works, I thought about all the people in her life, her Christian family. She said those words to me the day before she died, it was only a couple of hours before the medicines took effect and let her rest. Notice, those words are not self serving; they’re simple and meant to be a praise to our Saviour. Grandma knew she wouldn’t be long for this world, she knew she would soon be unconscious, she could have said some many things, and I believe she chose her words very carefully. She was so thankful for God’s family, she loved every Christian she met and even the ones she didn’t meet, she would introduce herself this way, “Grandma’s my name, and lovin’s my game.” So many called her “Grandma” but didn’t share her DNA, but they shared the blood of Christ with her. That was all that mattered to her. She felt so blessed to know so many Christians. As I go back through Facebook messages, I see many felt blessed to know her. I’d like to share some of your comments about her.

Dear Virginia,

I miss you a lot but I know where you are and that I'll see you again. I'll always remember how much fun I had at our slumber party--wish there could've been more. Thank you for being you.

Love,

Emily Smith

Grandma Virginia - I remember always looking forward to your hugs when we visited Grandaddy & Gee Gee in Duncan and came to church in Marlow on Sundays. Thank you for always being a beacon of Christian love and always treating us Smith kids like we were your own. I think you and my own Grandma Whitlow single-handedly invented Sunday Dinner after church. I will miss your boisterous laugh and singing, but I know who is enjoying it right now. You left an indelible mark on this world - love always and forever! Katie Smith Dye

To the Minson family: Our prayers are with you. As you know, Virginia was Mark and Andra's babysitter many, MANY years ago. She became (and stayed) our dear friend all these years. She was a marvelous Christian lady and will be missed immensely. Beth Davis Moore

I remember being in your and Billy's home when we were young and what a warm and happy Christian home it was...in my thoughts I see you and Billy together again looking down on the wonderful family you have left behind but you have left them well prepared to follow you to our heavenly Father...Beverly Cole

Virginia,

I will miss you. Thank you for showing us all what it is to live unapologetically, honestly Christlike.

Love,

Chuck Russell

Sweet Grandma, You were such a soldier of the Cross and an inspiration to us all. Thank you for "adopting" me, as you did so many. You always showed me such love and I always loved the advice you had to give. You lived by faith and not by sight, and your life was guided by the Word. I pray that I will have the devotion to our Lord that you had through support of the works going on in His kingdom, study of His word, and devotion to his Church and the family found within it. I love you and while I'll miss you here, I'm so glad that you are resting from your labors. I'm so glad you have your new body that doesn't hurt and I feel confident that you are being comforted in Abraham's bosom. Kayla Hicklin Russell

I'm so glad I had the chance to know you, Grandma Minson. You are a true legend. Alisa Hicklin Fryar

There are so many more, but I don’t have enough time or blog space to share every note. I am so glad to know that she felt blessed by her Christian family, and I’m so glad her family felt blessed to know her. More than that, I’m glad God can receive all glory and praise for giving us such a blessing in one another. The last note I want to share really sums up how I feel....

Thanks for your support. Rest now. Shawn Zybach

Mary Virginia Minson, Grandma

I can think of a thousand words to describe this amazing woman, but I only need one; Godly. Grandma Minson was a godly woman and she embodied the two greatest commandments of God.

Matthew 22:36-39- Master, which is the great commandment in the law?  Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment.  And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.

I didn’t know Virginia as well as some others did, but I did get the privilege of call her Grandma for the last 6 years since I married her grandson. I knew her long enough, and well enough to know that Grandma loved God with all her heart, soul, and mind, and she proved that every single day of her life. She was a diligent student of the Word of God and she always had a scripture to share to help with whatever situation you were in. She allowed the word of God to guide her footsteps and to light her way for so many years and in doing so she became a beacon to those of us around her. One need only meet Grandma once to remember her Christian legacy forever.

Anytime Grandma met someone new she would always introduce herself this way: “Grandma’s my name and lovin’s my game!” There was not a child of God that this woman didn’t love. If you knew her, you can be sure she loved you and that she prayed for you. Grandma had an especially soft spot in her heart for those men who sacrificed so much to spread Gods word; the evangelists.

She wasn’t my Grandma because we shared a common DNA, but because we shared a common love; Jesus Christ and His church. She touched my life and anytime I was near her she inspired and challenged me to be a better person; to be a better Christian. What a legacy and example she left.

Neva Jo Smith, Nana Jo

Words often fail me when I try to describe this woman. Nana loved Christ and His church so much and every day of her life she strove to teach those around her the love of Christ. Nana lived a very hard life, one filled with physical and emotional pain, her health deteriorated every single day. But even that didn’t keep her from doing the work of the Lord.

One of her goals was to ensure that her children and grand children knew the love of God and that they received the gift that he offered in His Son, Jesus. Her favorite scripture was this:

III John 4- I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth.

Not only did she constantly teach the word of God to those around her, she lived her life as an example to all she met. If not for this amazing woman, I would not be who I am today. She is the reason I came to know the love of God. She taught me His word and molded me into a young Christian woman. From a young age, she taught me that I should do what was right no matter the consequence. Nana and Papa made sure that I was constantly surrounded by other Christians. They took me to gospel meetings around the state of Oklahoma and to Brotherhood Meetings.

I can remember when I was seven years old, during church someone led a song called “Teardrops of Mercy”. This song moved me to tears. I felt every single word of the song as it described Christ’s ultimate sacrifice. After church, Nana and I sat down on the couch with a bible and she spent the entire afternoon teaching me the Gospel of Christ. She took the time to answer my questions and to help me learn all about the sacrifice Christ made for my sins. A year later I told Nana that I wanted to be baptized, once again she sat down with me and made sure I understood what I was doing and then she supported me every step of the way. When I came up out of the water, Nana was standing right there in the dressing room and from that moment on she led me. She taught me how to study the Word of God, she set an example for me to follow, and she constantly encouraged me on my Christian walk. I will forever be grateful to her for leading me to God.

Nana not only set an example in studying and teaching the word, she was also an example of perseverance. She was handed an incredibly difficult life at a very young age. She was sick all of her life, but there are so many people who never knew that. Nana suffered excruciating pain every single day. She never let that get in the way of doing what God wanted her to do. Even in her last days she put Christ’s church in front of her own needs.

 Nana was in and out of the hospital for several months before her death and even while in the hospital, she worried about church dinners, making sure that those who were sick were taken care of, or at least called, and that preachers travelling to the area had a place to stay and home cooked meals. Nana took care of everyone else before herself. She loved Christ and she loved His church. She was a friend to those who needed it and Nana to every young person she met. I miss her so very much, and I know that there are others who miss her too. But, she is now enjoying the very thing she worked her entire life to obtain; Heaven.

I pray that these “trophies” reflect the amazing women who built them. And I pray that those who read this are touched by the lives these women led and are inspired by the legacy and examples they left. The task of putting together this “Tabitha Trophy Case” has been a very difficult one for Elise and I and our hope is that we can reach others who are grieving the loss of a loved one and that we can help them to build their own “Trophy Case”.