Pastor: Jim kirkwood,I am so sorry for the lost of your love and companion,Mary. I'm so gratful that you and Mary,during my troubling times,in the 90's, had led me to the grace message,and I'm eternally and forever grateful to you, and Mary for the message of God's matchless grace,God bless you Jim, and your family,Thank you.
I met Mary when Jim and I were being ordained by Des Plaines Bible Church. At the time Pastor Massey was preaching verse-by-verse concerning the gifts for the church age.
And there before me, in a small package, was Mary, the personification of the gift of hospitality. It struck me as providential that I should meet an example of of this and so much more at the very time we had been studying this subject.
We lost touch as the ministry took me away from the Chicago area, but through the tape ministry I kept hearing about Jim's 'Miriam' as he would call her from time to time. Always a slight pause in his voice before he spoke her name, to remind his listeners she was still this gift of God, and his completion.
Over 25 years later, in the late 90's I contacted Jim via phone just to say hello to one I considered a friend and Biblical guide for many years. I was a bit surprised, however, when Jim called Mary to the phone to include her in our conversation. After her first few words, however, I recalled her gift, and it was like a flood of Christian love. To Mary, It was as if we had not missed a single day in our friendship.
What a wonderful reunion we shall have. What a glorious Lord we do have, for his gifts, the Ressurection, and anticipation with joy to see our loved ones again.
Almost every funeral I have attended in my life has been wrought with much excrutiating pain and awful suffering. The attendees are heartbroken for their "loss", and the gutwrenching anguish they exhibit makes you wonder if they can survive 1 more day of life, as their condition appears terminal. Statements like, "how will we go on", and "I can't live without her" abound. In Satan's evil age this is the norm, as the unsaved have no "hope", even at the thought of death.
My family just attended Mary Kirkwood's funeral last night, and witnessed and enjoyed the exact opposite! Smiling faces, old friends and acquintances reunited, joy and love everywhere, as the attendees there overflowed with love. Not only that, but my wife Cheryl and I actually felt blessed by the whole event. Why? Everyone we knew who attended was in the same family, the family of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. It actually seemed like a "family reunion"!
Then, John Kirkwood took the pulpit, and not only spoke about events Mary & her family experienced, as is done at most funerals, but his message hammered home in a wonderful way the love Mary had for "The Lord's Work", and the importance of Christ as the central purpose for life itself. I pray daily I would have the desire for service to The Master as the Kirkwood's have had for so many years. This message, capped off by 2 outstanding musical performances, and the fellowship of so many saints, made this funeral a true blessing and reason for every believer in Christ to rejoice as we await our coming redemption.
Thank you for such an uplifting event, especially in light of what could have been under the circumstances. We will treasure Mary's service, and look forward to seeing her again...
1Cor 15:55 O death, where is thy sting, o grave, where is thy victory?
John Kirkwood, I praise God for you, my Pastor and friend! This is an excellent idea for remembering our missed loved ones. I'm going to do this for my mom who went home with our Lord, last year. When I see you John, I think of your mother, Mary. I remember the first time I met her and your father, Jim, 22 years ago at the Parkridge Church. I sensed the love and admiration she had for Jim. I sensed the joy of the Lord coming from both of them as they explained dispensational truths to us. She told us that even though their son was in the hospital, they did not want to miss us. I left that meeting with Jim and Mary thinking of the difference that grace makes in their lives.
Rhonda and I have been greeted warmly with Mary's smiles, hugs, and words of inspiration since joining Grace Gospel in 1990. Her love for the Lord, the respect she showed to Jim, the grace and kindness she demonstrated over the years has been a great inspiration to me. In that respect, I think of Mary when I see the same in Wendy Kirkwood.
I'm dedicated to showing what's Grace got to do with my life. I look forward to joining sweet Mary when our Lord calls me home! Jim, Grace to You!
Mary and I spoke just about every Sunday. At the close of the service there would be many people gathered around her. She would manage to grab my hand and draw me near to her. There was never any small talk with her as she always had her conversation centered around Christ. What I would particularly like to share is a personal story about something we had in common. Mary had been through a similar situation as the one I found myself in: caring for an unsaved parent. There were many times I felt frustrated and wanted to give up on my dad but Mary would insist, "Never give up". She never gave up on her father and eventually witnessed him trust in the Lord for his salvation. She would recite Philipppians 4:6-7 all the time and told me to guard it in my heart. Those words continually come to mind even to this day. To those going through similar situations, please cling to those words of wisdom from a woman who was filled with beauty and grace. Mary exemplified a life touched by the Master's Hand. I am awestruck in knowing that she is now in His presence! My condolences go out to the entire Kirkwood family. You are in my thoughts and prayers.
Twenty six years ago, after listening to The Grace Believer program on the radio, I called the Kirkwoods to order some tapes. Mary answered, and immediately I knew that this woman was walking-the-walk that Jim Kirkwood was teaching on his program. The Grace of our Lord was real to Mary, and she always was there to speak to our family about her Savior. From a complimentary word to Cheryl, Scot, Joanna, and Jennifer at The Grace Center, to her excitement that we called on the phone, Mary was demonstrating what I can only hope to demonstrate...the love of Christ. Even in her last weeks, when I saw Mary at her home in Marengo, she would put on the biggest smile when she saw me that I had ever seen from anyone. Most people in her condition exhibit the opposite behavior. Mary's graciousness and kindness will always be remembered by the Smith's, and because of these wonderful attributes, Mary was a blessing to our family. Our prayer is that her example becomes more real to us every day. God Bless Mary Kirkwood and her family for their service for Christ. Mary, you will be missed, but we look forward to seeing you again!
My mother died around 5:30pm on April 15th, 2011. She had been asleep for about 36 hours. Dad, Nate and Bethel had visited that day and later Scott and Krista Mihigan and Drew and Dionna Gustafson came by to say goodbye. Drew expressed to Mary just how much she meant to him and how much he had learned from her by wisdom and example and then he and Dionna kissed her and left the room. I stood up to see them out and then saw my wife stop and take Mary's hand and after a moment she looked up at me with concern. By this time there were considerable pauses between breaths; I came to the other side of the bed and both of us holding her we told her how much we loved her and then I repeated what her friend Ann, the nurse had said to her the day before, "Mary, His hand is out to you; take the Lord's hand." Mary Lachen Kirkwood made news in Heaven that day.
See ya soon Mom.
