"A wife of noble character, who can find? She is worth far more than rubies. Her husband has full confidence in her and lacks nothing of value. She brings him good, not harm, all the days of her life...She opens her arms to the poor and extends her hands to the needy....She makes coverings for her bed...She makes linen garments and sells them...She is clothed with strength and dignity; she can laugh at the days to come...Her children arise and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her...Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised..."
A woman who fears the Lord. That would be Ida. Ida came to live at the nursing home almost eight years ago and the one thing all the staff knew before too long was that Ida was a woman who feared the Lord. Her faith was strong. She was assured that the Lord was with her and that He had all eternity waiting for her. Ida, a true woman of God.
Ida talked to God every day in prayer....in Norwegian. She thanked Him for family and friends. She recited the Lord's Prayer and the 23rd Psalm with joy. Ida was a delight and a witness to all who cared for her. One day the new chaplain came to visit. She asked if Ida had any favorite hymns. Ida's face broke into a beaming smile and she sang, accapella, "God Will Take Care of You," the refrain being:
"God will take care of you, through every day, o'er all the way
He will take care of you. God will take care of you."
God and His love were never far from Ida's mind and heart.The nursing home staff will always hold dear their memories of Ida in her night cap, her cups of soup she enjoyed so much and Ida's caring family.
May the Lord comfort and strengthen the family of Ida. May the Lord continue His diligent care of Ida and may He also fulfill the end verses of the 31st Psalm, "Give her the reward she has earned, and let her works bring her praise at the city gate," now and forever, Amen.
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