對璧姬的懷念 A Remembrance of Peggy

璧姬是一位非常「順服」的人，
她對人順服，是個孝順的好媳婦、好太太、好弟媳；
她對還境順服，勤儉持家，是丈夫的好幫手，孩子們的好母親，將三個孩子教養有成；
最後更以超乎常人的勇氣與信心坦然面對一切；
其一生所結生命的果子，是我們的好榜樣，永存在我們的心中，
我一生懷念她。

大組
錦環 思念
2009/3/16

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A Remembrance of Peggy:

“Dedication and surrender” describe the best to my beloved sister-in-law, Peggy.

She dedicated (順服) herself to her family
~ as a good daughter-in-law who honored her mother-in-law as her own,
~ as a good wife, and
~ as a good sister-in-law.

She surrendered (順服) herself to the life God prepared for her.
~ a great helper of her husband. She strived to be a good steward for her family
~ a great mother of her children. She raised her three children to be mature and useful people in God’s eyes.
~ an abundant faith in the Lord. She humbly faced her last days on earth

The fruits of her life are the model we are eager to bear and the memory we ink in our heart. I miss her ……


Sister-in-law
Chin-Huan
March 16, 2009

To Auntie Peggy - Celebration of Her Life on Earth

Auntie Peggy has a tremendous influence to my life. 18 years ago, I came to the States as a young single international student. Uncle Morris and auntie became my most immediate family here. Whenever, I faced the loneliness or struggled with my school work. They always make themselves available and welcome me to their family and to be part of their family.

Over 18 years, Auntie Peggy has encouraged me and helped me to open my eyes to our great Lord Jesus Christ. From her, I saw …

~ as wonderful daughter-in-law, who always took good care of grandma
~ as a loving wife, who submitted herself to uncle
~ as a sacrificial mom, who put all of herself to raise Faye, Gene and Matthew; and
~ as a faithful servant of the Lord, who served and praised Him all of her life

Although she passed away, I am celebrating her life in Christ on earth. “Victory”… It is the word always coming out of my mind when I think of Auntie Peggy’s life.

Her life is a victory over death ~
Auntie Peggy has overcome death at the moment when she trusted Jesus Christ as her personal Savior. The everlasting life she has victoriously conquered death. Since I know, I will see her again on the day come.

Her walk on earth is a victory over the world ~
Look at it… How may people have been touched by her? How many souls have been saved through her witness, pray, and her walk in Christ? I don’t know where you are spiritually, but, surly, I am the direct beneficiary of her witness. Through her, I saw the true Love from God. Through her, I saw the significance of great gift of salvation which led me to restore my relationship with God the Father through Jesus Christ.

I am certain that it is a victory of her life as the faithful servant of the Lord. And I know, on her home going, our Lord stood up and received her joyfully in heaven. She will reside with Him forever and ever.

Do I miss her? Absolutely… But she did not disappear from me. Her love, faith, and hope in Christ and, especially, her smile will always be remembered deep in my heart.


Nephew
C. Benjamin Chen
Shared on Feb. 6, 2009
Edified on Feb. 9, 2009

need prayer...

i just found out that my grandfather (our mom's dad) passed away yesterday.  if you are willing, please pray for peace and comfort, especially for our family in taiwan.  it's an extremely difficult time right now.

Because He Lives

this past friday would have been our mom and dad's 32nd wedding anniversary.  sometimes i wonder if God could have made things any harder: since our mother left us a couple months ago, we've gone through valentine's day, her birthday, and now her wedding anniversary.  i have to admit at times i struggle to see God's work in all of this, but our family continues to rely and trust Him...i know that's what our mom wanted.

more importantly it was good friday, as we remember Christ's death.  my dad's reading this chinese book that a friend gave him, that helps wrestle with the questions of why bad things happen.  although it doesn't present any concrete answers, it does assure us that we serve a God who can relate to and understand the hurts that we're going through.  it uses the example of Jesus on the cross, crying out "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?" before He died.  in many ways it is a great comfort to know that Jesus himself knew what it felt like to be abandoned and feel forsaken.

sunday was easter.  i went to efc with my dad today, and it was odd to not have my mom singing in the choir during easter, which she so often did.  one of the songs that we sang was Because He Lives.  when we got to the last verse, i started to tear up, because it made me think of my mom.  the words say this:

And then one day I'll cross the river
I'll fight life's final war with pain
And then, as death gives way to victory
I'll see the lights of glory and I'll know He reigns

how fitting this was for her life...

thanks God, for giving us hope.  thank you also for being a God who can relate to and understand our hurts.  thank you for the cross - amidst all the uncertainties and unknowns in life, it is the one thing we can be sure of.  

Pancreatic Cancer Awareness

heather, my mom's physician assistant, just ran a triathlon to raise awareness for pancreatic cancer.  heather was such a blessing to our family, especially in the last few weeks.  you can read about her race here: http://triforpancan.blogspot.com/.  if you want to donate, you can do so here: http://www.firstgiving.com/tri4pancan.  

also, for those keeping up with the news, you may have heard that supreme court justice ruth bader ginsburg was recently diagnosed with pancreatic cancer.  fortunately, it was caught extremely early, and she was able to undergo surgery.  here are some articles in the media that were written following justice ginsburg's diagnosis - both of them actually mention dr. varadhachary, my mom's oncologist from md anderson:

US News & World Report: 6 Things You Need to Know About Pancreatic Cancer

Wall Street Journal: Justice Ginsburg Plans to Return to Court in Weeks

How deep the Father's love...

the past week has brought some incredible weather to houston, with some gorgeous sunshine, and a wonderful spring breeze.  sometimes i think to myself that i wish my mom got to see spring one last time, instead of spending her last days on earth in dreary, cold winter weather.  however, i have to keep reminding myself that she's in an infinitely more beautiful and magnificent place right now...ironically, i bet she's probably wishing we're all experiencing paradise with her right now.

How Deep the Father's Love for Us from Gene Valgene on Vimeo.

anyhow, i thought i'd share this vid that dr. hwang gave to us.  it's a short clip of my mom playing piano at EFC's 20th anniversary in early december, less than two months before she went home to be with the Lord.  this was one of her favorite songs, and she asked that it be sung at her memorial service.

How deep the Father's love for us,
How vast beyond all measure
That He should give His only Son
To make a wretch His treasure

How great the pain of searing loss,
The Father turns His face away
As wounds which mar the chosen One,
Bring many sons to glory

Behold the Man upon a cross,
My sin upon His shoulders
Ashamed I hear my mocing voice,
Call out among the scoffers

It was my sin that helf Him there
Until it was accomplished
His dying breath has brought me life
I knoww that it is finished

I will not boast in anything
No gifts, no power, no wisdom
But I will boast inJesus Christ
His death and resurrection

Why should I gain from His reward?
I cannot give an answer
But this I know with all my heart
His wounds have paid my ransom

When cherry trees blossom in April

The following was written by Chao-Dung and Amy Shih, friends of Peggy's for many years.  The Shih family are active in the Clear Lake Taiwanese Association, the same organization that Peggy was a member of.  

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In early April of 2008, Stone and I had a long driving trip from Houston to Boston, I told Peggy that on the way we'll stop by Washington D. C. to see Cherry Blossom. One day before the trip Peggy gave us a gift bag containing her homemade roasted pecan, two Christian music CD and a note she wrote that" thousand Mile's driving would be long and tired, eat the pecan listening the Christian music will keep you awake and safe". We were so moved by reading her note, her caring thoughtfulness warmed our hearts throughout the whole trip. While we enjoyed the beauty of Cherry Blossom in Washington D. C., at the same time we thought of Peggy's great beauty of giving, caring and kindness. Her big smiling face is as pretty as the Cherry Blossom!

Once Peggy said that she wished to hear what friends would talk about her before passing in steads of after passing. I am glad that I did send her a Cherry Blossom card to let her know that we had deeply cherished her friendship, her loving, caring and kindness was very much appreciated.

 

Peggy was a "people's person", she always did the small stuff with a big heart, extended her helping hands to friends including young and old, men and women, poor and rich; she was loved dearly by whose whom knew her. Her big smile and soft speaking voice will be forever remembered, specially when Cherry Blossom in April. 

 

Chao-Dung & Amy Shih

 

P.S. Attached three Cherry Blossom pictures, one of them is about the same cherry blossom card sent to Peggy in April of 2008.