Thank you for your support and love. We are honored as a family to see first-hand the number of lives that have been touched and impacted by our mom. Today we celebrate and appreciate the life and legacy of Janet Burton. Yes, we are saddened by her passing; but, we are also thankful to have been given the opportunity to be a part of her life.
As I have been reflecting on this day and considering what I could possibly say about my mom, there have been several thoughts and ideas come and go. I was thinking of sharing a story about something and then decided that was the stupidest out. Another thought I decided against was because it was lob to come out the wrong way. So I figured I would simply focus on what made mom who she was.
Growing up as one of fourteen children involved some sacrifices for mom and her siblings. One sacrifice involved a reduction in schooling and education. Mom’s public education did not extend beyond the 8th grade. However, anyone who spent any time with her never thought of her as uneducated or under-educated. Mom was wise and sharp in ways that cannot be taught in books or in a classroom.
In thinking about this I began to understand some things about my mom and the wisdom in which she walked and carried herself. Two verses from Proverbs came to light in connection with my mom’s wisdom.
The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom; and the knowledge of the holy is understanding. Proverb 9:10
Solomon’s declaration here is that genuine wisdom begins with the fear or respect of the Lord. I cannot think of a better way to describe mom’s wisdom. She lived with a healthy fear of God and His power and ability. In fact I remember many times her doing her part to put that fear of God in my own heart. I am pretty sure I never deserved it either.
Growing up at 602 South Holland Street I saw many first-hand examples of the fear or respect of the Lord that mom possessed. Solomon is not saying here that it is wise to be afraid of God. Quite the contrary. The fear of the Lord spoken of here and throughout Scripture speaks of having a respect, awe and appreciation for God that causes you to draw near Him, spend time with Him, and devote your time and energy to His Kingdom.
Of all the things I remember from growing up on Holland Street, there is a plaque that hung in the kitchen for years with a simple statement that is forever engrained in my mind. The plaque simply said, “Only one life, ‘twill soon be past. Only what’s done for Christ will last.” That plaque epitomized the life and desire of mom. It is what drove her. It is what provided the wisdom in which she lived her life. That two line statement comes from this poem by C.T. Studd:
“Two little lines I heard one day, Traveling along life’s busy way; Bringing conviction to my heart, And from my mind would not depart; Only one life, ’twill soon be past, Only what’s done for Christ will last.
Only one life, yes only one, Soon will its fleeting hours be done; Then, in ‘that day’ my Lord to meet, And stand before His Judgment seat; Only one life, ’twill soon be past, Only what’s done for Christ will last.
Only one life, the still small voice, Gently pleads for a better choice Bidding me selfish aims to leave, And to God’s holy will to cleave; Only one life, ’twill soon be past, Only what’s done for Christ will last.
Only one life, a few brief years, Each with its burdens, hopes, and fears; Each with its clays I must fulfill, living for self or in His will; Only one life, ’twill soon be past, Only what’s done for Christ will last.
When this bright world would tempt me sore, When Satan would a victory score; When self would seek to have its way, Then help me Lord with joy to say; Only one life, ’twill soon be past, Only what’s done for Christ will last.
Give me Father, a purpose deep, In joy or sorrow Thy word to keep; Faithful and true what e’er the strife, Pleasing Thee in my daily life; Only one life, ’twill soon be past, Only what’s done for Christ will last.
Oh let my love with fervor burn, And from the world now let me turn; Living for Thee, and Thee alone, Bringing Thee pleasure on Thy throne; Only one life, “twill soon be past, Only what’s done for Christ will last.
Only one life, yes only one, Now let me say, ”Thy will be done”; And when at last I’ll hear the call, I know I’ll say “twas worth it all”; Only one life, ’twill soon be past, Only what’s done for Christ will last. ”
Only one life, ’twill soon be past, Only what’s done for Christ will last. And when I am dying, how happy I’ll be, If the lamp of my life has been burned out for Thee.”
I cannot think of a more fitting poetic tribute. Mom lived her life in light of eternity. She lived in the wisdom that comes from fearing, respecting, and offering herself in worship to her Lord.
The second Proverb that speaks volumes to me in regard to mom’s wisdom is found in the 11th chapter.
The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life; and he that wins souls is wise. Proverb 11:30
The declaration is that winning souls to Jesus is a mark and sign of wisdom. Many times we spend our time, talent and treasure to win everything else in this world, yet continue to find ourselves empty and lacking. We often work so hard to take care of the outward man while allowing our inner man – our spirit that has been created in the image of God – to waste away. Our mom had an uncanny ability to see the value of the inner man in every person she met.
I dare say that most if not all of us who knew her have had at least one conversation with Janet about the Lord, and about your need to invite Him into your heart as your personal Savior. I am also confident that at some point mom had a conversation with God in prayer about and for you. For some, like me, she had MANY conversations with God. I am honored to speak as a minister and at many memorials because of those many conversations with God about me as well as the many conversations with me about God.
I used to get so frustrated whenever mom would tell me or anyone else that when I grew up I was going to be a preacher. I promised her many times I would be anything but that. She would smile and tell me we would have to wait and see. I was confident she was wrong and I would have the last laugh on that subject. I am glad she was right. I am glad she did not give up on me.
In a conversation with my mother-in-law she told me that my mom would often approach her asking her to pray for me. Rozan was wondering if the prayers were ever going to matter, because she was watching my life and the selfish way in which I was living. But, my mom was convincing (in case you were unaware of that quality), and assured Rozan that I was close to getting my life right with the Lord. I have never gotten an honest answer from my mother-in-law as to whether she would have prayed as fervently as she did had she known she was praying me into her own family as well as God’s family.
Mom had this tenacity about her when it came to sharing Jesus with people. She carried such a burden to see people open their hearts to the Lord and live for Him. She lived with the realization that our outer man is perishing and we better take care of our inner man. I can picture mom praying in agreement for so many what Paul told the church in Ephesus he prayed for them:
For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named, that he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by His Spirit, in the inner man; that Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; and to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled will all the fullness of God. Ephesians 3:14-19
Mom was a soul winner. For that she was wise. I sat with mom on February 5 and read to her the book of Ruth, her favorite story in the Bible. I caught a glimpse of mom in the story, in the role and person of Naomi. Naomi had such a profound impact on Ruth that she chose to leave her famIly and all that was familiar in order to stay with her mother-in-law Naomi. Naomi literally had nothing in the natural to offer to Ruth, yet the impact was so strong that Ruth made this powerful and famous declaration:
But Ruth said: “Entreat me not to leave you, Or to turn back from following after you; For wherever you go, I will go; And wherever you lodge, I will lodge; Your people shall be my people, And your God, my God. Where you die, I will die, And there will I be buried. The Lord do so to me, and more also, If anything but death parts you and me.” (Ruth 1:16, 17 NKJV)
The impact was not natural or physical. Naomi had left such an impression on Ruth that she was willing to stay with her, follow her God, and model her life after the life of her mother-in-law. That is a Legacy. That is the type of impact special people have on others. That is the type of impact Janet has had on so many. Mom told me after I read Ruth that she simply wanted God to use her for His glory, to do what He wanted and not what Janet wanted. That was her driving desire. That was her fulfilled purpose.
If mom were here today, I am sure there are many things she might say to you, to me, or to us. I am convinced she would say that she loves you. I am convinced she would “declare” something. I have a suspicion she might offer to make you something to eat – a cheeseburger, biscuits and gravy, chocolate gravy – whatever happens to be your favorite.
But what if God in His sovereignty allowed mom to stand before us today and say only three words. What might those words be today? Knowing mom and knowing the source of her wisdom and strength, I feel pretty confident that what she would say would simply be this:
DON’T MISS HEAVEN.
I say that because that is who she was. That is the legacy Janet Burton has left behind. She was a woman after God’s own heart. She was a woman after your heart for God. She was a woman that eight of us had the distinct privilege of calling mom. She will forever be in our hearts. She will forever be missed. May we each carry on the legacy she has left behind.
God bless you.
