1994

A Tribute Sonya Danette Lewis June 1971 -October 1994 (Composed by Gerri Nicholson for the parents of Sonya and all of uswho loved her.) OUR SONYA-Truly you were God's gift to us. From the moment you came into this world you brought us great joy. You were our golden-haired child of summer with the twin– kling eyes and merry smile. Even your teen years were a joy because you chose a path of obedience and faithfulness. You loved your home and family and found contentment there. Your journey intowomanhood brought disease and pain. You saw this experience as a gift because it gave you an opportunity to know Christ in a new way. In Him you found comfort and the Lord of your life. Your favorite verse was Isaiah 54:1 0, -Though the mountains shall depart, and the hills be removed, my kind– ness shall not depart from thee, neither shall the convenant of my peace be removed, saith the Lord that hath mercy on thee.H You trusted His goodness, His mercy, His design for your life. And you wanted others to know your Lord, too. You knew what it meant to share His suffering; to share His burden for the souls of men. You wanted to be a teacher--you were. You taught us how to face lifewith courage one day at a time. You did not worry about tomorrow. You lived a life focused on others. A giving, caring servant of God. You looked at life and found it good-the wonders of God's creation, the beauty of asingle flower. And you rejoiced in the work of His hands. You taught us how to live and how to die. When we would question why God would take away such agood giftwe remember that •the power of a gift rests in the hand of the one who bestows it." And so we are grateful for the gift of your life--to have had you to travel the way with us for a season. You brightened our days with your love, your laughter, your goodness. You graced our liveswith thewarmth of your presence. Your life was a series of passages. The passage of your birth marked by the pushing, pulling, struggling and pain of being born Into aworld of death and dying. The passage of girlhood into womanhood. The most important passage into a new birth of life in Christ. And the final passage of death into life everlasting. Apassage marked by the caress of angels wings, bearing you up into the Father's house in heaven. A home where all sin and sickness and sorrow have passed away, and flowers donot die. You would ask us now to trust Him who knew you best, who loved you best--trust that He chose the best for you-– trust that His grace Is sufficient for one day at a time. You would ask that your empty room would come to mean to us lha! the mepty tomb mear: o 1'ose . lOved Jes--s No: b;: ~ w.:c ca ec: re world lnto be ng He WhO S1l callS fo,., tne sun eacn mom– ,,g He who brings forth the starry host one by one. You have met Him who came and dwelt among us and stilled the winds and waves of hte sea. (In His time He will still the surging waves of grief in our hearts.) You have met Him-– your Redeemer, He who gave His life to ransom yours that you mightbe with Him today. You have met Him-the King of ~ 10 ~z rlllll:

Heaven By Sonya Lewis

I can hear heaven') bells ringing in the distance.

I can feel the Lord sunoundme with His presence.

I can perceive the angels shouting hallelujah.

I can view heaven's gates shinning withglorious beauty.

I can behold my Lord who is so precious and pure.

I know my Lord will return to gather up his children.

I look forward to that day of eternal celebration.

written April, 1993

''Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord." Revelations 14:13

::r.!i :iXJ'i't:dess c:qRSS our deep aiJIX'CCiaUOil for aU )OUr goodness and kindness toward us in the unexpected death of our dear Sonya. You have shown us our love and sympathy in so many ways... Your kind words and calls and visits. The food, the flowers and _ • .,.._ 4 - ..J --- ----·- - 411 L - ...-