Tuesday, October 12, 2010
My name is Marla Williamson. I was honored and proud to be called Joan's sister. Not her blood sister, but a sister In Christ. And she was my husband's sister too. I came from a broken family, so Joan was the best sister, in every way possible. I used to tell her," I want to be just like you when I grow up. Joan." I am sixty two, but the best things I have ever learned came from her. I drove from Helotes, Texas, just to spend some time with Joan and Harry. I will always be grateful that we had those golden moments together. We laughed, we cried, we all read scripture every day, and Joan and I even played dress-up, like little kids, when I bought her a new pair of black pants and a beautiful sweater to go with it. She commented that she loved the sweater because it kept her warm in church, and when we did go to church, she got so many compliments. Seemed like she sure knew a lot of people, and they were drawn to her like a magnet. When she wasn't feeling well, I'd give her a rub down just to help her feel a wee bit better. What we both did the most was talk about Jesus, or read about Him using a book by Rick Renner, "Sparkling Gems of Gold." That was what Joan was in her heart and soul. Joan is the most beautiful person I have ever known. She talked the talk, and walked the walk. Even on her bad days, I would tell her how beautiful She was. She would just smile, but it wasn't just her outward beauty, it was her inward beauty that radiated. Joan was so filled with the spirit that she absolutely glowed. I remember at my husband's memorial, after the service, my grandson, Matthew asked me, "Nana, who is the lady that sat behind us in church? I said,"She is papa's sister.. He kept staring until I reminded him that it was not proper to stare, but he couldn't take his eyes off of her. "She glows, Nana. She glows. I immediately knew what we all know about Joan. She is so spirit filled that she does, indeed, glow" Because of Harry and Joan, my 29 year old son was born again. This happened just 6 months before he passed away. That gave me so much comfort and hope. Then Jim and I became born again believers. Joan & Harry have saved so many souls for Christ through their prison ministries, and I am sure that Harry will continue on. I love this analogy. A group of people are standing by the ocean's edge, watching and waving to their loved ones on the ship. When the ship goes out of sight, someone yells, "There she goes." On the other side of that ocean, you can hear someone else say, "Here she comes." One day soon we will all see Joan again. I will remember all that she taught me to be, and will rejoice that she is with our Lord and Savior.
