A Life Of Phone Calls & Faithfulness

6 But godliness with contentment is great gain. 7 For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. 8 But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that. 1 Timothy 6:6-7. 

Enough was enough for Ms. Mary. She lived the most modest life of anyone I’ve ever known. I can remember being in her small, sweet home and seeing the three or four clothing items she owned hanging in her tiny closet. And, she was the happiest lady I knew. 

I’ve known her my entire life and I never saw her anything but content and joyful. 

I remember being a little girl, hearing her chuckle about how much she loved “wrastling” (wrestling). She loved so many things. She loved music and loved going to the Hollonville Opry House. She loved dancing! She came to my 40th birthday party and was the last one to leave the dance floor. And she was as faithful to Days of Our Lives as she was Eagles Way Church. 

She loved life in the simplest, fullest ways. But what she loved most about life were the people God brought to her life.

In relationships, she gave so much more than she ever took. She lived out Philippians 2:3–4—valuing others above herself, never looking only to her own interests, but to the interests of others. She consistently looked after the interests of everyone else, because her love for people was so genuine and real. 

You missed church? You got a phone call. Not to condemn you—but to let you know she noticed, and to make sure you were okay. 

She made everyone feel seen and like they mattered. Because to her, they truly did.

From the time she walked to my grandfather’s church on Chapel Street as a young girl to just one week ago, she never stopped being faithful to this house and this body. She was special. That is for sure. 

Mary certainly followed Jesus’ instruction to not store up treasures on earth… but store up treasures in heaven. I am certain she entered heaven to find treasures that cannot be counted— and a whole lot of people waiting there because she loved them so well.

There will never be another one like her. 

I love you, Ms. Mary. You leave with us a true legacy of faith, hope, and love. May we carry that legacy well - by showing up and checking on one other. 

One phone call away,

Dusty Takle