Linda (Groce) Couch

I Corinthians 13:1-13

Linda Groce Couch born July 21, 1940 and died on Sunday, November 25, 2018. Linda wore many hats and functioned in many roles. She was a daughter, a wife, a mother, a grandmother, a great grandmother, a mother-in-law, a neighbor, a church member, a student in Sunday school class, a prayer in the Tuesday morning prayer breakfast, a cook in the prayer breakfast, a friend, and a beloved child of God. In all of these roles and others that I did not mention, Linda fulfilled them with excellence, grace, and love. She moved in these roles and fulfilled them because she loved being a part of them. She enjoyed the fellowship. She enjoyed extending the hospitality of Jesus. She enjoyed allowing God to use her to bless others. She enjoyed sharing with those in the faith who lived out a mature faith in which she could see the presence of the Lord in their lives. Linda wanted to grow in her faith, her understanding of God, and in her walk with God. She knew that God loved her, and she wanted to reflect that love which God had for her to others. Linda loved her family and she knew that her family loved her.

She knew that her family was just a call or a text away. She loved you and cared for you when you were unable to love and to care for yourselves. You honored Linda by caring for her when she needed your care. You journeyed with her as she made this journey through sickness, and with death. You rearranged your lives and your schedules so that you could care for her. You attempted to live each moment that you had with Linda to their fullest. You would have continued to do what you needed to do to care for her. She knew that you loved her, and you knew that she loved you. The best thing that you can do to honor her is to be all right. She told you this, and she shared this with me. She wants you to love her, to remember her, to let those memories bless you. She wants you to live your lives to their fullest, and to the glory of God.

Linda Groce Couch lived her life to the glory of God, and to the blessing of others. She understood that she was at her best when we collaborated with God's Spirit and God's people. She understood that as she reached out to others, God gave her joy. She reached out to others before she became ill. She attempted to be a good neighbor, and to be a good steward of the life God gave to her. She was active in the ministry of this church. She sat on that second pew every Sunday morning at 9:15. She participated in the Music Makers of this Church. She allowed God to use her to bless the lives of others. When she discovered that she was ill, she did not become bitter. She did not ask God or herself, why. She trusted in God. From the first day she told me about her illness until the last time she spoke to me, she told me she had peace. Because she had a peace that God gave to her, she could wait on the Lord. She could trust in God. She could anticipate that God had something in store for her that was better than what she was experiencing. She could run her race of faith with patience. She could run it trusting that God would not abandon her. God gave her faith, grace, hope, and love. God eased her pains and God held Linda close. God reminded Linda that God loved her, and she was safe in God's love and presence. God reminded her that she was a beloved child of God.