Aunt Sue sent me what Uncle Rob read at the funeral so I thought I would post it up here in case other people wanted it as well.
Mom’s Eulogy
Romans 8-14-16 says, “As many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God. For you have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but you have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God.”
My parents have three biological daughters of their own, Marjory, Linda and Sandy. But in 1971, my father and mother felt the nudging of God in their hearts and the conviction of their minds to adopt two abandoned boys from Korea.
Now that I have four young boys of my own, I realize children do not appreciate their parents enough. Children only have one perspective of life and it’s through their own eyes. Children do not know the challenges and struggles their parents had to overcome. I was no different than my own children. But over the years, I know the sacrifices and unconditional love my father and mother showered upon their children.
My earliest memories of my mother were when my brother and I first came to America around the time I was five years old. Our family was on a summer church vacation. My mother was holding my small five year old hand and helping me walk up the stream in Fish Creek, NY. I also remember sitting on my mother’s lap while she read me Dr. Seuss books teaching me English. As I got older, my mother drove me to sports practices and came to all my games. She was not a person of many words but her actions supported everything we did. I never heard her complain about all the time she gave to us.
Roy Lessin once wrote in a poem called the The Impact of One Life, “When a stone is dropped into a lake, it quickly disappears from sight – but its impact leaves behind a series of ripples that broaden and reach across the water. In the same manner, the impact of one life lived for Christ will leave behind an influence for good that will reach the lives of many others.”
My mother left her impact on her husband, five children and eleven grandchildren and many others that she met throughout her life. While her earthly life consisted of 74 years, she now lives out an eternity that has no end. So while her physical body may no longer be among us, her spirit and soul is still alive. We know that she walks in the fullness of life that God has for her, fully healed.
Now when I look at my own wife and four boys, I see the fruits of my mother’s labor and love. By adopting my brother and me, my father and mother gave us a hope and a future. I see this hope and future is being passed down to my children and it will be passed down to my children’s children. Her legacy will continue for generation to come and my brother’s son and my boys will continue the Clark family name.
My mother accepted Jesus as her Savior and she has been adopted into God’s permanent family and welcomed home by her heavenly parents. The older I get, the more I realize how flawed I am emotionally, physically and spiritually. I look forward to the time when both my mother and I in our perfected minds and perfected bodies will walk hand in hand amidst the galaxies and I can thank her personally for all her sacrifices and tell her “I love you”.
