A Woman of Honour

On Thursday I attended a thanksgiving service to celebrate the life of my friend Honor.  She was 96 when she died in June. This is a photo from the 1940s when she was a young woman. Isn't she lovely? Honor [and her late husband Clifford] were very dear friends of my parents.

They lived on a farm and had three children. Honor was secretary of the little chapel at Necton - and often if Dad took the afternoon service, we'd be invited to Sunday Tea in the farmhouse.

Honor was one of three daughters- the other girls were Grace [a Baptist minister] and Joy [a Baptist Missionary] Their Dad was a Baptist minister - and he chose the names Grace, Joy and Honor for his girls. Back in the 1920s people did that sort of thing!

The chapel was very full for the service- and I saw lots of friends from half a century ago. Her second son, John is also a minister now. He gave a tribute and his wife sang a solo. My good friend Susan [H's other DIL] read John chapter 14.

Honor was an amazing woman- a good friend to so many people. There was always space at her table to feed unexpected guests. 

John spoke of the things around which her life was built - food, farming, friends, family and faith. When the little chapel in Necton closed, she set up an evening worship service in the farmhouse, and a ladies group.

Honor had planned her funeral service herself, specifying hymns, and readings, and the music to be played [she was an accomplished organist, and well into her 90s was playing the organ at the chapel in Dereham where I shall be preaching today

I got to the chapel on Thursday after listening to the extended radio lunchtime news programme about the resignation of the Prime Minister. It was good to sit in the peaceful place of worship, the sun streaming through the stained glass windows, and forget about the world outside. I thought of Proverbs 31

Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting;

    but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised.

Honour her for all that her hands have done,

    and let her works bring her praise at the city gate.

These are the good memories I have of this lovely lady. And one verse from the last hymn she had chosen seemed a fitting prayer for such a day when our government is in turmoil...

Lord, for our land, in this our generation

Spirits oppressed by pleasure, wealth and care

For young and old, for commonwealth and nation

Lord of our land, be pleased to hear our prayer.