A tribute to Mrs. Elfrieda Elizabeth Voisard Borchers written by Jackie Glaser Serrangeli (daughter of Joan Borchers Glaser) and delivered at the luncheon following her funeral January 21, 2013
Here is something I have written to signal what I call the end of an era in our family. Elfrieda Borchers was the spiritual center of this family for many years, and I hope to honor her life with what I say to you today.
They say God moves in mysterious ways. People see Him in nature, feel Him in the touch of a hand, smell him in the scent of a rose, or taste Him in the satisfaction of a full stomach. Some also say He speaks to us through music.
God’s voice came to me in the lyrics of a song this week. It’s not the first time it’s happened. It’s happened during long drives, and it happened when Grandpa died too. Sometimes I think the message is just for me, and other times it’s to share. Those are the times the lyrics foreshadow something deep in our collective souls, reflecting a shift coming.
Have you ever seen the rising of one bird from a tree full of hushed birds? That first bird rises, and silently, the flock acknowledges it’s time to fly. There is a pregnant pause, eerie and heavy with anticipation, and then suddenly, a rushing of wings fluttering together. The flock rises in what seems to be a single thought, a single intention, moving in unison to go south for the winter. This is how I felt this time. God seemed to say, “This message is not just for you, little bird… this time, it’s for the whole flock. Listen so you can share with all of them.”
So here it is, Flock. As I was driving home Tuesday night with my two small children in the car, I started listening to a dance song I’ve heard many times without truly listening to the words. The singer poetically described the innocence of his childhood, how he thought he was king of the world, a perfect existence free from pain until the first time someone broke his heart. He talked about his father, who comforted him after his first heartbreak. He looked deep into his father’s eyes, who told him, “Don’t you worry child. See, heaven’s got a plan for you.” I was struck by the beauty of a few words that comforted a son, how simple but sage that advice was. My eyes filled with tears. I didn’t know then why that particular song struck a chord in me the day before my Grandmother died. But now I see how the words were to remind me of Elfrieda. Isn’t this what she believed about her life? Isn’t it that same faith that she passed to my mother, who passed it on to me? I realize one day I will pass this onto my children, comforting their fragile, innocent hearts with the promise of a God who always knows what he is doing with us, that there is a sacred purpose for each one of us.
“Heaven has a plan for you.” What wonderful words to sum up the life of my Grandma, who lived her life in hope of one sweet day meeting our Savior in Heaven. This is what carried her through her toughest moments, literally until she could no longer move her lips in prayer in the last days of her life on earth. I know she believed meeting our Creator is the greatest reward for a life lived following God’s will!
What did Elfrieda teach us with her life? I think she taught us that we must season the changes of our lives as she did, with these three basic things: faith, hope, and love. You notice first I said faith. We all know that her faith was central to our family, a rock cementing us together through the challenges of life. For example, I remember many family dinners standing in a wide circle as Grandma lead us in prayer before eating. That simple habit of praying before eating reminds us to be humble as she was. Those habits are what make us who we are, when the rest of the world loses sight of what is important, we are still thankful for simply having food on our kitchen tables. Gratitude and faith walk hand in hand.
Hope. She never gave up hope on any situation, always prayed on it, asked for help in Jesus’ name. How many stories could we share in this room, how Grandma was called upon to pray, and how many answers came to us? We liked to say that she had a direct line to Jesus, because He always seemed to pay close attention her intentions.
And love… how Elfrieda lead us by the example of love! Her gentle, kind spirit blessed many people in her life. I think I can safely say there is not one person on heaven or earth who could say they didn’t like her. Think about that. How many people do you know who can pass through 98 years on this earth and have a reputation like that? She may have had a soft voice, but she could still surprise you with her witty comments dropped just in that right moment, or sneak a trump by you while playing cards like the best of them. She was sweet as much as she was strong. Many of you know that her dad called her, “Pete” since she could do the physical labor on the farm normally handled by the men of her time. Let’s also remember that she bore 8 children too, which is no small feat!
The last time I spoke to her, I asked her, “Can you believe how many descendents you have? We are here because of you!” She smiled in her special way, shook her head, and said, “Well, I’ll be.” I don’t think she herself had imagined what a legacy she would leave with her family. She only thought to continue living in the simple and loving ways she always had, following the example of the Holy Mother and perpetuating that beautiful image for each generation of daughters to come.
But let’s not forget how we remember Elfrieda in her daily life. Her smile lit up a room, and her eyes would sparkle, even if your jokes weren’t that funny or you story wasn’t nearly as good as Grandpa’s. She was always a good sport, wasn’t she? She knew how to make you feel special and appreciated, no matter who you were. And we can’t talk about love and not talk about the 70 years she was married to the love of her life, Urban. Too many marriages today don’t make it to a fraction of that number. Yet there they were, year after year, reminding us that they were committed to their family and to each other. They set the bar pretty high, didn’t they? That’s what inspires great love songs, isn’t it?
Speaking of great things, how many of you saw the gorgeous sunset Wednesday evening when Grandma passed away? You might say it was Grandma letting us know everything was ok on the other side. But maybe it was Grandpa who asked the Lord, “Please, give Elfrieda the most beautiful welcome home into heaven that you can, so breathtaking that our children catch a glimpse of it back on earth, even if they can’t possible imagine how wonderful it is here on the other side. I want them to know that everything we taught them was true… each sacrifice we made, each little act of love, each moment lived in service to others, was not in vain. From this place without time, we see the whole picture now. We can confidently say to our 8 children, our 31 grandchildren, 58 great-grandchildren and generations still to come, that everything is going to be fine. No matter what the pains of the earthly life might be, God knows what he is doing with each one of you. To each one of them, don’t you worry, don’t you worry child! See, heaven has a plan for you. “
