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We come to offer tribute to the memory of Helen Lehse, to consider the influence of her shadow upon the lives of those she loved, upon those who fell under her care, indeed upon the world itself. She passed through our village, and her shadow, as lightly as that of a butterfly, touched many here. The Apostle John tells us that "God is love," and we follow God's ways by ourselves being people of love. If we say we love God but don't love one another, we are not following God at all. The New Testament is very clear about this: love is not a feeling but a way of acting. Paul describes that way of living in 1 Corinthians. 13, a chapter we sometimes mistakenly put only into the context of romantic love. But it is much more than that, much deeper and wider. We shall take a few moments to reflect on what the Apostle says there about what love looks like and consider in that light how the shadow of Helen Lehse touched our lives. Love is patient and kind. Helen was raised in a strict Norwegian home, one of nine children, helping no doubt to care for her younger siblings in the years of the Great Depression. We saw the shadow of patience and kindness nurtured in that home as she touched our lives in later years. Love is not envious, boastful, or proud. I daresay there is not a person in this room who ever noticed the slightest trace of any of those traits as the silent, slight butterfly shadow of Helen Lehse touched upon the window of our souls. She would never speak of her achievements, but she was totally supportive of her children and immensely proud of her grandchildren in theirs. Love is not rude or self-seeking, not easily angered, and keeps no record of wrongs. Dawn, her daughter, tells a wonderful story about the last prayer Helen prayed. She was having a difficult time in the hospital. It was hard for her to breathe, and she wanted quiet and rest. In truth, she wanted to die. Dawn, in her way, was talking and encouraging – all the things you would want a daughter to do. Finally Helen said, "Just leave!" Dawn did, feelings hurt, and returned some minutes later, obviously having been crying. Helen's food tray had been delivered, and Helen prayed her familiar table grace: Come, Lord Jesus, be our guest, and let these gifts to us be blessed…and forgive me for hurting Dawn's feelings. Amen. That is a butterfly wrapping its gentle wings around a daughter. It is the very meaning of "keeps no record of wrongs," the very meaning of love. Love rejoices with the truth. Always Helen's joy rested in the goodness of God, in the salvation that is in Christ. The several Bible passages she had made note of spoke consistently of God's goodness and care, the shadow of her butterfly protected by the Creator of all things good.
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