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In
Remembrance of “Annie” Maralyn Mathias |
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In
Remembrance
of Maralyn Ann (McNaughton) Mathias
Maralyn peacefully
left this earth to meet her Lord and Savior. Her
ability to swallow had stopped shortly after completing
the paragraphs
below (Thirsty for Jesus).
Nevertheless, she remained alert and even communicating with her
husband, Jim,
and other family members until her final one hour of life. Her last
breath
was drawn at 10:35 a.m. on Sunday, January 4 2009. She was 59 years old.
In June of 2007 Maralyn
was
diagnosed with
ALS (Lou Gehrig’s Disease). Maralyn documented her
blog monthly and very
religiously. This blog has touched and inspired thousands throughout
the world.
You can visit the blog site at this address below and be blessed as
many others
have.
www.maralynsupdates.blogspot.com
We have printed a
copy of Marilyn's Blog into a paperback
that you
can purchase here on this site or with the cookbook at
www.anniesbestrecipes.com or
individually. We know the stories in the cookbook as well as the story
of
Marilyn's Journey Home to be with her Lord will touch you and your
family
greatly.
Maralyn
About
Maralyn from her Blog
Age:
59
Gender:
Female
Many of you
who will read this page know me, so you already know that I
love to cook, travel and take pictures. You also know that Jim and I
were AG
missionaries in Europe from 1988 to 2007, teaching at Continental
Theological
Seminary in Belgium
and Iso Kirja Bible College
in Finland.
Our last year in Europe we were also part of the pastoral staff at
Espoo
International Christian Fellowship in the Helsinki
area. We have returned to the States because I have been diagnosed with
ALS
(Lou Gehrig's Disease). This return to America
was a
bit before we had planned it, but none before God planned it. So we are
now
back in Wisconsin
where we taught school
before going to Europe.
We continue to do
missions projects with the Regional Director of AGWM Europe, Greg
Mundis. We
have purchased and remodeled the home that Jim built for his parents in
1979.
Grandpa and Grandma's house is staying in the family! :-) One of our
claims to
fame is that we are "Mummo and Ukki" (Finnish words for Grandma and
Grandpa) to five grandchildren: Reuben, Levi, Elliana, Micah, and
Jolene. Our
other is that as of June 1, 2008 we have have been married 40 years! Mm
Thirsty
for Jesus
[Written
early on New Years Day 2009]
Water is essential to life, and even though food will no longer propel
down my
throat, I’m still drinking. Amazingly, I don’t feel
hungry … but I am thirsty,
and I’m drinking as much as I possibly can. Without divine
intervention, I will
get to heaven some time within the month.
These
18 months since my ALS diagnosis have been the
worst and best of my life. Worst because of my deteriorating body
… best
because of my relationship with Christ.
And
I’m beginning to see my friendship with Jesus like
water when I’m thirsty … so essential to life. He
is the real “living water”
referred to in John 4:1-26.
I
have many lovely friends, but I’ve never before known a
Friend SO close. Every day we have smiled, laughed, and cried together.
And he
has comforted me. I’ve asked his opinion, and he has nodded
one way or the
other. His close friendship has given me many new perspectives on this
earthly
life that I had never considered before. He’s been closer
than my skin.
This intimate friendship was essential to the writing of this blog. He
nudged
me and said, “Don’t plan ahead” (totally
contrary to my nature). “Let me teach
you as we go. I will pick the topics. Just trust me! I’ll
show you what to
write.”
Let me tell you, for a “Type A” girl, that was
tough … at first … until I saw
that he really would supply the ideas and insights. It’s been
an amazing ride.
So if you’ve been blessed by this blog, thank him!
The only thing that makes me sad is realizing that this intimate
friendship
with him has been available to me all throughout my life, and I never
chose it
until now. I missed it … big-time! I guess I was always so
busy with my lists,
projects, plans and events that I was too occupied to be open to such
an idea.
Oh, I did my devotions, but so often because I knew I
“should.” That’s a
different thing. Now I long to be with him, to feel his hug, to hear
his voice,
to see his smile. It’s so different.
Here’s a piece of motherly advice: Don’t wait until
you have a terminal illness
to seek a true friendship with Jesus. He’s ready! It takes
setting aside some
less important things. It takes listening. It takes openness. But
it’s so worth
it! I hope you become literally thirsty for Jesus.
Soon I’ll be in heaven, and it will be great to see the
scenery, gardens and
mansions. It will be great to hear the singing and see what’s
on the banquet
tables. BUT! I can tell you, the thing I’m most looking
forward to is meeting
my Best Friend face-to-face for the very first time. I’m
trying to imagine the
thrill.…
mm
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