BRAD'S TRIBUTE
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In our trek through life we encounter many people with varying types of > personalities. Each one we meet has a varying level of honesty, integrity, > genuine caring, and level of "down-to-Earthness" if that is a word. And in > our quest for friendships and relationships we tend to put them in > categories or a hierarchy in our daily, weekly, monthly or yearly lives. > Some we see often, some we see infrequently but they carry with them the > quality they possess nonetheless. With today's hurried lifestyles coupled > with technology, we find ourselves developing relationships via the > internet chat rooms, instant chat, and voice chats we'd otherwise never > have the honor. Maryann was just such a friend. Although I've never had > the privilege of meeting Maryann personally, I've known her through many > many conversations over a period of approximately seven years. In those > seven years I remember conversations ranging from her dog Max getting into > mischief to times when her heart was troubled due to family disagreements > or a friend falling on hard times. I know Maryann to be a good Christian > lady and when I think of her qualities she has blessed all of us with, I > can't help but think her summation can be found in the following text...

> > An excellent wife, who can find? For her worth is far above jewels. The > heart of her husband trusts in her, and he will have no lack of gain. She > does him good and not evil all the days of her life. She looks for wool > and flax and works with her hands in delight. She is like merchant ships; > she brings her food from afar. She rises also while it is still night and > gives food to her household and portions to her maidens. She considers a > field and buys it; from her earnings she plants a vineyard. She girds > herself with strength and makes her arms strong. She senses that her gain > is good; her lamp does not go out at night. She stretches out her hands to > the distaff, and her hands grasp the spindle. She extends her hand to the > poor, and she stretches out her hands to the needy. She is not afraid of > the snow for her household, for all her household are clothed with > scarlet. She makes coverings for herself; her clothing is fine linen and > purple. Her husband is known in the gates, when he sits among the elders > of the land. She makes linen garments and sells them, and supplies belts > to the tradesmen. Strength and dignity are her clothing, and she smiles at > the future. She opens her mouth in wisdom, and the teaching of kindness is > on her tongue. She looks well to the ways of her household, and does not > eat the bread of idleness. Her children rise up and bless her; her husband > also, and he praises her, saying: "Many daughters have done nobly, but > you excel them all." Charm is deceitful and beauty is vain, But a woman > who fears the LORD, she shall be praised. Give her the product of her > hands, and let her works praise her in the gates. --Proverbs 31:10-31
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Of course Maryann didn't work in the fields gathering wool and flax, or > have maidens, but looking at the text you can clearly see an uncanny > parallel of her work ethics, love for her family, protection of her > household, honor and support of her husband, desire and success in helping > others, and in general a very noble lady who has blessed her husband with > a noble reputation for which he has no reason to be ashamed in any way. > >

Although we have lost her for our own selfish desires to continue the > relationship we've enjoyed with her and will sorely miss her, She is truly > in a much finer place and we have memories that can never be taken from > us, and serve to console us until we have no need for them here on Earth > and meet up with her again in the presence of God.