Cindy my Friend (by Karen Morrison)

The third eulogist at Cindy's funeral was her dear friend, Karen Morrison.

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Good afternoon.  My name is Karen Morrison and I have been a friend of Cindy’s for well over twenty years.  If you told me a week ago that I would be standing here speaking at a funeral, I would have probably thought you a bit crazy.  If you had told me I would be standing here speaking at Cindy Trevisan’s funeral, I definitely would not have believed you. 

I’m sure I am not alone when I say I was totally shocked by the news I received last Monday about Cindy’s death.  Since she left us several days ago, I have read countless expressions and tributes of affection and respect about the kind of person Cindy was and the impressions she left with us.  The beautiful fragrance of her life permeated ours while she lived, and that sweet aroma will linger on as we remember her in the days, months, and years to come.  So we gather here today to mourn, to give thanks, and to celebrate Cindy’s life.

As I said Cindy and I have been friends for over twenty years.  During that time, Cindy’s life was made up of large and small events, ups and downs, happy times and sad. We both were members of Grace Chapel, attended women’s weekly Bible studies in the early days, roomed together at women’s retreats, taught VBS, were elder’s wives, and possibly sang together in a Christmas production or two.  Recently Bill, Glenn, Cindy, and I camped together at Cuyahoga National Park in Ohio last Memorial Weekend, where we hiked to Brandywine waterfalls, biked, swam, cooked, and enjoyed Michigan Pothole ice cream at the local KOA camp store.  

We originally started out on about a 5-mile bike ride and somehow it ended up being about 18 miles due to detours and repairs being made on the path.  The problem was that Bill and I had promised Glenn and Cindy a fairly easy ride.  Guilty as charged – I think we stopped for ice cold drinks and ice cream to ease the pains of our backsides! 

Just a couple of weeks ago when Cindy was in the hospital for her last treatment, I was at the other end of the hospital with my daughter.  During a break, I went and visited Cindy.  Glenn came soon after and we had a wonderful time sharing, discussing, and wrestling with the questions that challenge our faith in the middle of trying circumstances.  Discussions like these are always precious times when you can unburden your heart with dear friends.  Who knew then that this would be the last time I would share this kind of conversation with my friend.  I am thankful for and hold these memories close to my heart.

So in tribute to Cindy, if there is one verse of scripture which captures her best, it is perhaps the description of a gracious woman in Proverbs 31:25. It says: 

She is clothed with strength and dignity, and she laughs without fear of the future. (Proverbs 31:25  NLT)

Strength, dignity, and laughter – three beautiful gifts that we celebrate today. (first focus Strength)
I looked up the definition of strength.  There are many definitions but here is what one said: the capacity of an object or substance to withstand great force or pressure.

Synonyms:  robustness, sturdiness, firmness, toughness, soundness, durability stability, impregnability, resistance

Cindy displayed that kind of strength mostly in her dealings with people.  She displayed strength in her most cherished relationships of family:  in her strong, stable, and godly marriage to Glenn.   She exhibited strength raising and loving her beautiful children, Adam and Laura, and Michael, her son-in-law.  She showed her strength as she cared for her mother Norma, and interacted with her siblings Judy and Bryan, and with her extended family which included her relatives and the Trevisan in-laws.  She demonstrated strength with her friends and her colleagues at work.  She was reasonable, practical, and sensible.  In many ways Cindy was very predictable, but her predictability was a great strength because you knew you could trust her.  She displayed strength in her job working with children, showing patience as her students practiced their literacy skills.  Cindy had inner strength – she was firm and sound.  She was a rock – immovable - you could count on her.

Psalm 118:14 says, “The Lord is my strength and my song and He has become my salvation.” 

Cindy had inner strength because she relied on Jesus to provide her with that strength. 

Strength, dignity, and laughter (second focus dignity).

I looked up several definitions of Dignity: If you talk about the dignity of people or their lives or activities, you mean that they are valuable and worthy of respect.  If someone behaves or moves with dignity, they are calm, controlled, and admirable.

Dignity is our inherent value and worth as human beings.   Everyone recognizes that we all have a deep, human desire to be treated as someone of value.  Cindy had dignity.  She understood her value and worth as one who was created by God.  She was not only created by Him, but was also a child of God because of her relationship with Jesus Christ.  Her worth and her value came from God.  Because she understood who she was and to whom she belonged, she behaved and moved with dignity – she was calm and controlled. 

She also extended this dignity to others in all her relationships.  Cindy understood that the bond that holds our relationships together is the mutual recognition of the desire to be seen, heard, listened to, and treated fairly; to be recognized, understood, and to feel safe in the world. When we are accepted and we feel included, we are granted a sense of freedom.  Everyone recognizes that we all have a deep, human desire to be treated as someone of value.  Cindy did this.  She treated people with dignity - she valued people.  She listened to others, treated people fairly, and embraced those around her.   The Message says in

1 Peter 2: 17:  "Treat everyone you meet with dignity.  Love your spiritual family.  Revere God."

Cindy did this well – she treated others with dignity, loved her spiritual family, and she revered God. 

Strength, dignity and laughter (third focus laughter).

The definition of laughter is: the action or sound of laughing, which is most usually a visual expression of a positive emotional state, such as joy, happiness, or relief.  It expresses an inner mood or disposition.

Proverbs 31:25 says:  She is clothed with strength and dignity, and she laughs without fear of the future.

This godly, faith-filled laughter in this verse does not come from someone who is confident in herself or in her own abilities, but rather, this laughter comes from a woman who is resting in God’s sovereignty. It’s a laughter that does not come from self-trust but rather, it’s a humble, God-trusting laughter that steps out of the way in submission and hope.  In other words, laughing — are those people, not who secure for themselves a life free of trials, but those who find themselves securely resting in the arms of him who has the power to sustain and protect, even in the midst of trials. Their joy and peace come not from changing circumstances, but from the steadfastness of their unchanging God.  Cindy understood these principles and lived them out in her life.

So I think Cindy laughed without fear of the future, because she was trusting in the sovereignty of God who has kept every single promise He has ever made.

I think Cindy laughed without fear of the future, because she was depending on the grace of God that would meet her in each and every season of her life. 

I think Cindy laughed without fear of the future, because she had an attitude of confident hope in the face of adversity and in the unpredictable challenges of life. 

Finally, I think Cindy laughed without fear of the future, because she had faith knowing that this life was to be lived to the full, as a preparation for the next life.

I really don’t think Cindy expected to die on Monday, April 8, 2019 at the age of 62.  She was making plans to attend a family reunion this summer.  We talked about her going back to work next fall.  She had plans...But God had different plans for her.  Her passing so close to Easter brings to light the promise that Easter reveals –  Cindy not only had hope in this life, but she also had hope in life after death because of Jesus.  I think this would be the message that Cindy would want to share - This same hope which belonged to Cindy, can belong to anyone who puts their trust in the One who is the resurrection and the life, and that is Jesus.  John 6:40 says, For my Father’s will is that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in him shall have eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day.

Strength, dignity, laughter — the three special qualities, that were grounded in Cindy’s Christian faith and so evident in her life and that are part of the beautiful legacy she leaves to her family and friends.  She was deeply loved and will be greatly missed.  We pay tribute to Cindy today and thank her for her example of a life well-lived. 

Well done good and faithful servant, Cindy Trevisan!