Crystal
LINDA LYONS DEDICATED 100 PERCENT OF HERSELF, UNSELFISHLY TO HER HUSBAND, CHILDREN, AND GRANDCHILDREN. SHE WAS THE MOST UNSELFISH, LOVING, CARING, FORGIVING, AND NON-JUDGMENTAL PERSON I KNOW. SHE WAS TRULY A BEAUTIFUL PERSON WITH A LOVING HEART, AND ONE OF THE PUREST SOULS I KNOW. SHE NEVER HAD AN UNKIND WORD FOR ANYONE, EVEN THOSE WHO HAD HURT HER IN LIFE. SHE WOULD SAY IT WAS NOT HER PLACE TO JUDGE THEM, AND WOULD JUST SAY, THAT SHE FORGAVE THEM. SHE WOULD ALWAYS SAY THAT JESUS WOULD TURN THE OTHER CHEEK, AND THAT WE SHOULD TOO. SHE ALWAYS FOUND SOMETHING GOOD IN EVERYONE, EVEN IF NO ONE ELSE COULD. SHE WOULD TAKE THAT ONE GOOD THING AND BUILD ON IT. REACHING HER HAND OUT TO HELP THAT PERSON FIND THERE WAY. REMINDING THEM TO TRUST IN GOD, AND NEVER LOOSE THEIR FAITH. THAT GOD NEVER LEAVES US, WE LEAVE HIM. HE IS ALWAYS THERE WAITING, IN HOPES, THAT WE WILL COME BACK. MY MOTHER HAD BEEN THROUGH A LOT IN HER LIFE. SHE GREW UP IN GERMANY. AS A LITTLE GIRL, HER MOTHER TRIED TO SHIELD HER WITH HER OWN BODY FROM THE BOMBS DROPPING AROUND THEM. SHE KNEW STARVATION AS A LITTLE GIRL AND OFTEN WENT TO BED HUNGRY. ONE OF HER UNCLES WAS TAKEN INTO THE WOODS AND SHOT IN FRONT OF HIS ENTIRE FAMILY, BECAUSE HE WOULD NOT JOIN HITLERS ARMY. MY MOTHERS OWN FATHER WAS MADE SICK FROM THE THINGS HITLER HAD DONE. IT HELPED TO SHORTEN HIS LIFE. HE DIED WHEN MY MOTHER WAS 14. SHE HAD TO QUIT SCHOOL AND WORK IN THE FIELDS AND THE FACTORIES IN ORDER TO HELP HER FAMILY SURVIVE. SHE DID NOT HAVE AN EASY OR CAREFREE LIFE. SHE MARRIED MY FATHER, AN AMERICAN AIR FORCE MAN, MOVED TO CALIFORNIA, AND LATER BECAME A CITIZEN. SHE RAISED US TO KNOW HOW LUCY WE WERE TO LIVE HERE AND HAVE THE RIGHTS AND FREEDOMS THAT WE HAVE. SHE RAISED US TO ALWAYS BE GRATEFUL FOR EACH OTHER AND THE THINGS THAT WE HAD. TO APPRECIATE AND VALUE EVERYTHING IN LIFE, AND TAKE NOTHING FOR GRANTED. TO HAVE EMPATHY AND COMPASSION FOR OTHERS AND WHAT THEY WERE GOING THROUGH. TO NEVER JUDGE OR HOLD GRUDGES. TO NEVER BE MEAN, OR STAY MAD. MOST OF ALL TO NEVER PURPOSELY HURT ANYONE, TO FORGIVE EVERYONE,AND TO HELP OTHERS WHEN WE COULD. MY MOTHER, IN SO MANY WAYS, WAS MY SAVING GRACE. SHE IS THE REASON I HAVE ALWAYS HELD STRONG TO MY FAITH WHEN SO MUCH HAS TRIED TO CHIP IT AWAY, AND DESTROY IT. SHE IS THE REASON I FOUND GOD. HER LOVE AND GUIDANCE LED ME TOO HIM, AND HELPED ME TO BECOME WHO I AM. IF IT WERE NOT FOR HER, AND THE UNSELFISH, UNCONDITIONAL LOVE, SHE SO FREELY GAVE, AND FOR HER WISDOM AND GUIDANCE I THINK I WOULD HAVE BEEN TRULY LOST FOREVER. IT IS BECAUSE OF HER, THAT I HAVE FOUND GOD, AND THROUGH GOD, THAT I WILL BE SAVED. I HAD A LOVING CHILDHOOD, WITH A PRECIOUS, AND PRICELESS LOVING MOTHER, AND WHEN I GREW UP I HAD NOT ONLY A MOTHER, BUT AN AMAZING FRIEND. I WILL FOREVER LOVE, RESPECT, AND BE GRATEFUL FOR HER. I WILL NEVER STOP MISSING THE VOID OF HER IN EVERY ASPECT OF MY PHYSICAL LIVE, BUT I WILL FOREVER CARRY HER WHEREVER I MAY GO IN LIFE. FOR SHE WILL ALWAYS BE RIGHT HERE IN MY HEART AND HER MEMORIES AND TEACHINGS WILL NEVER BE FORGOTTEN, FOR I AM TEACHING, AND GIVING TO MY CHILDREN WHAT SHE TAUGHT, AND GAVE TO ME. I WILL LOVE AND MISS YOU MY SWEET, SWEET-FACED MOTHER,, UNTIL THE DAY GOD REUNITES US TOGETHER AGAIN, AS HE HAS PROMISED. UNTIL THEN, SING AND BE WITH THE ANGELS MOM, AND WHEN IT IS TIME THAT I SHOULD COME, I HOPE THAT YOURS WILL BE THE FACE TO GREET ME AT HEAVENS GATE, TO LEAD ME IN TO MEET OUR SAVIOR, OUR HEAVENLY FATHER, GOD……… YOUR FOREVER GRATEFUL AND LOVING DAUGHTER, CRYSTAL / CHRISSY