My Helper and Upholder of My Life


“My Helper and Upholder of My Life”
Message by Rev. Dr. John M. Best at Funeral of Florence “Flossie” White
Psalm 54
March 11, 2019

I have never read Psalm 54 at a funeral. It isn’t listed in the Book of Common Worship as a suggested text. But it meant a lot to Flossie, a charter member of Pine Island Church, and she selected it.   In her own words, “I feel like David.  He got through with the Lord’s help. To me, this scripture means hope.  It reminds me that God is here. No matter where I am, I have God. So, I don’t mind being here as long as he needs me to be.”

Although these last few months, she was more than ready to move on to what’s to come. When I asked what she would like me to pray for, she said, “I’m ready to go.  I want to be with Jim, be with the Lord.”  She was ready to go to what's next.
           
She was mentally sharp and alert up until her final days. She welcomed my visits.  When I walked in her room, she always perked up, “Oh, good.” Never did she made me feel like I was an interruption in her life. She remained engaged wanting to know what was going on in the church and about me. She was up on national politics. Last Thursday I found her rocking back and forth in her chair after watching the congressional hearings all day Wednesday.  “I can’t stand it.”  She was in mental anguish at what’s going on in our country.  She was also in physical pain with brittle broken bones, and having refused medication.  But that was soon remedied. Hospice promises to help control pain and anxiety.

On Tuesday, I found her medicated and in bed, floating at the edge of being awake. I read her descriptions of heaven from Revelation to put her mind on her journey’s destination where she so desperately wanted to go.  Her last words to me, she whispered, “I’ve believed my whole life.”
                       
Like all mortals, Flossie sometimes needed help beyond her own strength, beyond the family’s assets, beyond the community’s ability to help. David’s words resonated with her. “Save me, O God.  Vindicate me by your might.” V.1   And God did. She found herself in an unhappy first marriage. God gave her the inner strength & self-esteem to leave town, get a divorce, and to return and start over.  God blessed her with Jim.  They were a blessing to each other and to us.  Her granddaughter, Kathy, shared with me that Flossie would often say, “The day I met Jim White was the happiest day of my life.”

And so she selected this Psalm to share David’s testimony:
            “Surely, God is my helper; the Lord is the upholder of my life.” V. 4
            “I will give thanks to your name, O Lord,…for he has delivered me from every trouble.” V. 7

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