For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body that it may be conformed to His glorious body, according to the working by which He is able even to subdue all things to Himself.  (Philippians 3:20-21)

It was a beautiful fall day with not a cloud in the sky.  Warm gentle breezes tossed leaves of gold and red into the air as my husband and I took pictures in a historic area of the city.  Suddenly, the day turned grey by a disturbing phone call.  Our sister-in-law, Penny Mauldin, had a tumor on her pancreas.  It was later determined to be malignant.

Standing together, my brother, Walt, and his loving wife of 34 years, sought whatever measures to save her life.  The rest of the family hoped and prayed for a miracle.

As the months went by, Penny never became angry with her heavenly Father, even though like you or me, she questioned why.  Still, Penny stood strong in her faith trusting the Lord with every fiber of her being.  She held fast to the One who had sustained her throughout the years and would do so once more.   

During the challenging months, God was busy teaching Penny and our family how to trust Him even when we didn’t understand.  For me personally, words of comfort and strength came from the Lord more times than I can count.  Penny told me she clung to the Scriptures and prayed.  Even though our hearts were breaking we held on to the Master’s hand, for without Him we couldn’t have made it.

Penny was a planner and when she realized she was not going to recover, she made some of her arrangements with the help of her faithful husband. Less than one month before Penny passed and despite her lack of strength, she planned a Thanksgiving dinner and invited her immediate family. The day of the dinner, Penny gathered enough strength to sit at the table and eat with her family.  Afterwards, she prayed over each of them individually telling them personal words of encouragement and the longings of her heart for their lives.  Then, Penny read a list of prayers God had been faithful to answer over the years.  God’s faithfulness was the focal point of that part of the conversation because Penny wanted to glorify Him for all He had done.  After that meaningful time with her family, she went to bed and never regained her strength, but Penny’s goal had been accomplished.

As we traveled to my brother’s home before the memorial service, I came across a Scripture and felt compelled to share it with the family realizing that we were facing difficult days ahead:

I will go in the strength of the Lord God: I will make mention of Thy righteousness, even Thine only. (Psalm 71:16)

Our family indeed went in the strength of the Lord during that difficult time and God was faithful to help us.  As I went into my morning devotional time each day that weekend, God’s loving hand was upon me.  One day in particular God’s power was on me in a tremendous way.  Isn’t that just like God?  He carries us in our most desperate moments. 

My brother, Walt, told me several things he would like people to know about Penny and I’ve decided to let him tell it “his” way:

Penny was blessed with a very analytical mind.  She could look deep within a particular situation and see the “big picture” but also sense what needed to be done.  Through this insight, she could solve problems with ease. 

In addition, she understood and sensed the power of TRUTH better than anyone I have ever seen.  At times, we would be sitting in a church service, and the pastor would be preaching about the Word of God.  When she heard TRUTH being expounded, she would begin crying.  She loved the TRUTH of God’s Holy Word.

Besides all of this, Penny was a scientist . . . a chemist . . . and she fully comprehended the intricacies of the creation.  She saw truth in the laboratory and embraced it.  She found Truth in the Scriptures and embraced it.   The bottom line is that Truth is Truth no matter where it is found . . . whether test tube, literary masterpiece or Holy Scripture.  She knew that the appropriate integration of truth is both intellectual and behavioral in nature, and the pursuit and application of truth is, indeed, “ministry.”

Penny’s middle sister Pattie, had a dream about a month before Penny went to be with the Lord.  Pattie saw Penny in her dream standing in front of a mirror.  Penny was young, beautiful and dressed in a long white wedding gown with her long hair flowing.  Pattie said to Penny in her dream, “Don’t you want to go back?”  Penny answered assuredly, “No, I’m ready to be married to Jesus.” 

Actually, Patti’s dream is biblically based because the Body of Christ will become the spotless, glorious Bride of Jesus Christ when it is raptured.  (Rev. 21:2, 9) 

Pattie said many times over the years, Penny prayed with such an innocent child-like faith believing for the needs of her family and friends.  An illness of Pattie’s son which otherwise would show up with negative blood work looks now as if everything is normal. 

Penny’s mother, Mae, told me that several months before Penny passed she and her three daughters, Penny, Pattie and Pam, and a granddaughter, Francesca, had a wonderful time worshipping, singing praise and worship songs and praying in Penny’s bedroom.  In other words, they had camp meeting!  It was a wonderful time of rejoicing and God’s Presence was mighty to help them as they lifted Him up in praise.

My cousin, DeLonda, told me a story about Penny after the memorial service.  She and her husband had driven the three-hour trip to Vanderbilt Hospital in Nashville when Penny had to undergo three consecutive surgeries. When DeLonda and her husband were about to leave, Penny asked them to pray for her.  When the prayer was over, Penny proceeded to pray for DeLonda because her arm had been seriously injured in a car accident and in a sling for a number of years.  This touched DeLonda’s heart because despite the fact Penny had issues herself she cared about someone else’s needs.

My mother reminisced about how special Penny had treated her.  She was touched by the fact that Penny welcomed her into their home immediately after my father passed away.  My mother had no place to go since she and my father were living in a parsonage at the time of his death.  It has meant a great deal to my mother ever since. 

One summer when our two children were teens, Penny, Walt and their family came for a visit.  As parents raising teens, it’s only natural to wonder at times if there’s hope for them. My husband and I were interested in our children becoming strong Christians and neither one of them seemed the least bit interested even though they had been saved and baptized some years earlier.   I shared those concerns with Walt and Penny during their visit. Penny’s custom was to get alone and read the Word and pray so it wasn’t long before she came out of her room handing me her Bible with a Scripture passage she felt was from the Lord for us.  As I read those precious Words, peace settled over me like a warm blanket.  God gave the Promise, but Penny was faithful to give it.  Over time, our children have re-dedicated their lives and become strong in their love for Christ. They each serve the Lord with gladness to this very day.  Praise God for the victory and for a praying, believing sister-in-law! 

The day after Penny went to be with the Lord, a song came during my morning prayer time entitled “Home Free.”(by Wayne Watson)  The last phrase in the chorus proclaims: “The ultimate healing is to be Home free.” I realized that Penny was finally healed and free from pain after her long months of suffering.  Penny had gone into the loving arms of her Savior she longed to see for so very long.  Her body would go to the grave, but it had only served as a means to house her soul and spirit.  The one Penny really was -- and still is -- lives on.  Her glad spirit soars, rejoicing in God her Savior, free from tears and Home Free. 

Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life.  He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live.  And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die.  Do you believe this?”  (John 11:25-26)

Blessed are those who do His commandments, that they may have the right to the tree of life, and may enter through the gates into the City.  (Revelation 22:14) 

Prayer:  Father, thank You for loving us from the time we’re born right up until the time our physical body dies.  The beautiful thing is when our hearts are in tune with You, we have nothing to fear because we step right over to the other side and into the very Presence of our God.  We can then look into the beautiful face of Jesus, the One we love and who loved us enough to shed His innocent blood for at Calvary .  How precious that thought is.  One day we will understand it all and be Home Free with You, safe from all sickness, disease or harm. Praise God for those marvelous wonders. Amen.