Appropriate words are difficult to summon in response to the tragic wreck of September 26th that took the life of Lori and her husband Sonny. As a congregation, we have gone through shock, anger, and sadness that our beloved sister was taken from us in something so senseless and sudden. Lori was integral to caring for three generations of her family. Her absence leaves a void in their lives. We continue to pray for them and show our concern by walking with them through this dark valley. We recognize time and chance happen to all (Ecc. 9:11), but we also grapple with the question of why. Nevertheless, we must cope with the reality that Lori is no longer with us in this earthly life. We must trust that as a child of God she has gone on to her reward and that the Lord will justly repay impenitent evildoers in His final judgment (Col. 3:23-25; 2 Thess. 1:5-10). Memories of Lori remain; her servant’s heart, her hugs, her infectious laugh, and her undying love will continue to speak volumes to those who knew her (Heb. 11:4).
A passage that reminds me of Lori is Romans 12:10-13: “Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another; not slothful in business; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord; rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer; distributing to the necessity of saints; given to hospitality.” Several at Shelbyville Road have known Lori for a long time. Ben and Lois knew her since she was in high school and came to their Bible camp. Lori not only told people she loved them, but she also showed them in service. She became close to people because she was in their homes cleaning. Often Sonny would accompany Lori to do odd jobs like hanging blinds, household repairs, etc. to help those around them.
Seven months ago, Lori was with several of us at brother John Elkins’ funeral. Lori loved to care for John. She would go over to fix him breakfast, clean, and paint his house. Even after he passed away, she worked hard with her knowledge of real estate to prepare the house to be sold. Passing from this life to the next is like moving; we go from our temporary residence in the body to our eternal abode with God. “For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens” (2 Cor. 5:1).
Lori expressed her longing to see John again. The good news for those in Christ is that reunion is a future reality. To those who doubted whether they would see their loved ones again who had died before the return of Christ, Paul wrote:
But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him. For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep. For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. Wherefore comfort one another with these words. (1 Thess. 4:13-18.)
We sorrow at the passing of a loved one, but for a loved one who is in Christ we do not sorrow hopelessly. We can look forward to a reunion, and that is a comfort to us.
The Christian’s death is described in 1 Thessalonians 4 as sleep in Jesus. This does not mean the dead are not aware of where they are; they definitely are (Luke 16:19-31). The dead also recognize others. Lazarus was with Abraham in paradise (Luke 16:23); the penitent thief saw Jesus there as well (Luke 23:43). Thus, sleep is a euphemism for death which conveys the rest that those in Christ experience when they die. “And I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me, Write, Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth: Yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labours; and their works do follow them” (Rev. 14:3). They are at rest; they are comforted (Luke 16:25).
Lori was an open book. She loved the ladies’ Bible class where she could share with her sisters. She was honest about her difficulties. Though we each must bear our own load in life (Gal. 6:5), we also need to help one another, “Bear ye one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ” (Gal. 6:2). Lori was tired. She was burdened by the difficulties of life but also maintained a positive attitude. She did not want to die, but she did want deliverance. Others depended on her and needed her to remain here, but to depart and be with Christ is far better for her (Phil. 1:23, 24).
As followers of Christ, we are to love one other (John 13:34, 35; 15:12, 17; 1 Thess. 4:9; Heb. 13:1; 1 Pet. 1:22; 2 Pet. 1:7; 1 John 3:14-18; 4:7-21). Many of us remember Lori giving us a hug and saying, “I love you, honey.” The apostles did not neglect to express their love to their fellow Christians to whom they wrote. One of the most common forms of address by New Testament writers is the term “beloved” (Rom. 12:19; 16:8, 12; 1 Cor. 4:14, 17; 10:14; 15:58; 2 Cor. 7:1; 12:19; Eph. 6:21; Phil. 2:12; 4:1; Col. 4:7, 9, 14; 1 Thess. 1:4; 2 Tim. 1:2; Philem. 1, 2, 16; Heb. 6:9; Jas. 1:16, 19; 2:5; 1 Pet. 2:11; 4:12; 2 Pet. 3:1, 8, 14, 15, 17; 1 John 3:2, 21; 4:1, 7, 11; 3 John 2, 5, 11; Jude 3, 17, 20). The last Bible class I was in with Lori was the Wednesday before the accident. We were studying 1 John 4 regarding the love God has for children that is also shared among them as brothers and sisters. “Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God” (1 John 4:7). As we carry the memories of Lori with us, let us remember to express our love to one another not only in words, but also in deed and in truth (1 John 3:18) until we all are together with the Lord in eternity because of His love for us (John 3:16; 1 John 3:14-16).
–Mark Day
-** If you would like to support Lori and Sonny’s family via GoFundMe, here is the link:
https://www.gofundme.com/f/support-the-lawrence-family-after-tragic-loss