I’m
sure we have all delighted in the beautiful iris flowers, whether blooming in
our gardens, part of a bouquet or even flowering in some wild marsh land.
But
I am writing this blog about a very special lady named Iris. It was at her
funeral that we heard of the meaning of the name, and the significance of the
different colours. It seems that its primary significance is ‘faith, hope,
wisdom, courage and admiration.’ What better name could have been given to our
Iris, Iris Hare.
We
think of funerals as sad occasions, but when it is of a Christian who has lived
a full and fruitful life and has spent her final years, though in need of
nursing care, at peace with God and man, we can only be thankful. Iris’s
funeral was a testimony of God’s power to save and to keep, and though there is
always sadness in parting, we know that it is her God who has come to release
her from her body of humiliation in order that she may be clothed with her new body of glory and beauty.
It
was John Wesley who boasted that the early Methodists knew how to die well. I
hadn’t been able to visit Iris of later years but I am sure that she who had
lived so well, had also died well.
I
was so thankful for a friend who enabled me to attend her – I won’t say
funeral, though there had to be a grave side, but her thanksgiving
service.
The
eldest of three sisters, one of my first memories is of Iris leading a Women’s Rally.
A new-comer to the area, I was the speaker, so had a good view of her two
sisters sitting in the front row and looking up in admiration at their older
sister who was leading.
It
was lovely to hear of some who were welcomed into her home as little children
and then taken to Sunday School, Iris like the Pied Piper, the trail of
children increasing as they walked through the village until, in the little
Apostolic Church, Iris faithfully, and unforgettably, taught them from God’s
word of the love of Jesus their Saviour.
How
many will there be in heaven through Iris’s faithful witness, not only in words
but through her shining example?
Although
aged fifty, I was courting and then newly married when I first met Iris and she
was such a blessing in my life. I wrote these verses for her ninetieth birthday
and felt I wanted to add them here as my thanksgiving for the beautiful life of
my sister Iris.
Bright
little lady,
Overflowing with praise
So
faithful in serving
In all of your ways
Thank
you, Iris, who welcomed me
Loving
sister, mother
Devoted in prayer
I
had only to ask and
God’s answer was there
Thank
you, Iris, who prayed for me
God’s
faithful handmaid
Waiting on His word
To
speak or to be silent
Responding to her Lord
Thank
you for speaking God’s word to me
Our
dear loving Iris
Still
writing words of love
Still
God’s faithful servant
Your
treasure stored above
Thank
you, Iris, for your love to me
But
there is part of Iris’s story which has impressed me deeply, for though her
children have shared her faith and are
walking with Jesus, for many years her husband was an unbeliever and could make
life difficult for her. However, God had given Iris a picture, or was it maybe
a dream, of her Max holding her hand and
of them walking together to the house of God. Was it possible that he would
ever change and this come to pass?
One
day a friend, not perhaps known for her prayer life, came to her and they agreed
together to pray and fast for the impossible to become possible. And yes, the
miracle happened, and we believe that Iris with her Max are now united in
heaven.
We
thank God for the story of Iris, and most of all, of her wonderful Saviour.
