Upon receiving word of Betty Young’s passing yesterday afternoon, two thoughts came to my mind and heart.

The first was “Free at last, released to Jesus in whose arms she lives forevermore”, a thought which came to me when I was driving along a rather crowded street. Pulling to a safe side of the road, I sent this thought to Peter Young.

The second thought centres on what I had been reading from the third chapter of the Book of Ezra in the Holy Bible which records how the foundation of the Temple of God was relaid and the various reactions of the people:

“And when the builders laid the foundation of the temple of the LORD, the priests in their vestments came forward with trumpets, and the Levites, the sons of Asaph, with cymbals, to praise the LORD, according to the directions of David king of Israel; and they sang responsively, praising and giving thanks to the LORD, “For he is good, for his steadfast love endures for ever toward Israel.” And all the people shouted with a great shout, when they praised the LORD, because the foundation of the house of the LORD was laid. But many of the priests and Levites and heads of fathers’ houses, old men who had seen the first house, wept with a loud voice when they saw the foundation of this house being laid, though many shouted aloud for joy; so that the people could not distinguish the sound of the joyful shout from the sound of the people’s weeping, for the people shouted with a great shout, and the sound was heard afar.”

Betty’s passing will have a similar effect upon the host of people who knew her: a chorus of weeping with a loud voice alongside a shouting for joy so that it would not be possible to distinguish “the sound of the joyful shout from the sound of the people’s weeping…”

So it must be for a person who knew how to live and who knew how to die. A person who lived her life for others: family, friends and strangers not to mention the birds, dogs and flowers. A person who welcomed poor and rich, a friend of all and sundry whatever their social status, race, culture or station in life. A person who in any and all circumstances invariably found her place and role in life because her life’s purpose was the service of God and whoever He had sent to her. A person whose heart had been with people in need.

How many people had Betty helped? How many lives had Betty’s books, stories, sharings, food, kind thoughts, acts of mercy, cheerful disposition and welcoming smile touched? No one but God can tell.

At about three in the afternoon on Tuesday December 8 2009, Betty fell asleep and woke up in the arms of Jesus. Praise God from Whom all blessings flow!

Rest well dear Betty and enjoy to the fullest measure the presence of the Lord.

(from Keat Peng, the “boy” you accepted, taught, forgave and touched)

Admin Note: A Wake Service will be held on Thursday, 10 November 2009, at St. Gabriel’s Church, Kuala Lumpur (location map). A Memorial Service will be held on Friday, 11 November 2009, at St. Paul’s Church, Petaling Jaya (location map). For more information, contact Nancy at 017.313.9658.

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