"I have fought a good fight,
I have finished the race,
I have kept the faith.
Henceforth there is laid up
for me the crown of righteousness,
which the Lord, the righteous judge,
will award to me on that Day,
and not only to me, but also to
all who have loved his appearing."

2 Timothy 4.7-8

Today was the last day of the year 2020, and the first day of Lois’ eternal life. Her days of struggle and pain ended before sunrise, when she was undoubtedly embraced by the Light of the world, who is also the Resurrection and the Life: the Lord Jesus Christ.

She was named after Lois, grandmother of Timothy and woman of “unfeigned faith” (2 Tim 1.5) and she lived up to her namesake’s reputation by telling her children, grandchildren, friends, and even strangers the Good News: that Jesus came to redeem us from the curse of sin and make dead men live. Lois took every opportunity to testify of the ways in which the LORD's faithfullness and love had been poured out upon her life and her family member's lives.

In tribute to Lois:

+ Let us praise the LORD in thanksgiving for the blessing of knowing Lois and the wonderful joy she brought into our lives.

+ Let us remember that, while our hearts seem broken beyond repair, this is not "goodbye" forever, rather, it is simply: "see you in the Morning." Let us look with joyful hope to the Last Day, when the Alpha and the Omega returns in glory and the dead in Christ are raised first -- or to our own "last day," when our spirit departs our body for our true Home.

+ Let us pray for the grace to patiently endure the Way of the Cross, and to follow in Lois' faithful footsteps, finally to be granted the joyful reward of beholding our Risen Redeemer face to face.

Come, Lord Jesus!