Jennie Maddox - 3/14/18

Funeral for Jennie Maddox 3-15-18

We have assembled this evening to remember, to celebrate, to thank God for and yes, mourn Jennie Maddox.

As we do so we want to have the perspective of those who have hope. The apostle Paul said,

For we know that when this earthly tent we live in is taken down (that is, when we die and leave this earthly body), we will have a house in heaven, an eternal body made for us by God himself and not by human hands. (2 Corinthians 5:10)

Jesus said, “Don’t let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God, and trust also in me. 2There is more than enough room in my Father’s home. If this were not so, would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you? 3When everything is ready, I will come and get you, so that you will always be with me where I am. (John 14:1-3)

Jesus also said, “I am the resurrection and the life. Anyone who believes in me will live, even after dying. 26Everyone who lives in me and believes in me will never ever die.” (John 11:25-26)

And the Apostle John told us of what he glimpsed of Heaven,

God himself will be with them. 4He will wipe every tear from their eyes, and there will be no more death or sorrow or crying or pain. All these things are gone forever.” (Revelation 21:3-4)

Will you join me in prayer?

Our Father, we come to you tonight with a mixture of emotions. On the one hand we are filled with sadness. We have watched, cheered for and prayed for Jennie for years. We wish we weren’t here. On the other hand, we are filled with such gratitude for the way you blessed us through Jennie. And Lord, there is a sense in which we are glad that her suffering is over and she can know health and vitality once again. Help us tonight. We want to do right by her and at the same time we ask that you stir up in us the hope that comes from faith in you. Help us to this end, we ask in Jesus’ name. Amen.

As soon as you met Jennie Maddox you were either drawn in by her big heart and beautiful smile, wrapped up by her infectious energy, or amused by her brash sassy-ness. Her sisters agreed, “she was rough around the edges but had a huge heart!” If you knew her, you know that was an apt description.

In High School it was best to describe her as a “social” person. People loved to go over to her house because there were always lots of “Little Debbie” snacks there (because Larry worked for Little Debbie). Jennie was funny. She referred to her Multi-colored sequined prom dress as her “Cage Dancing Dress.” She made up words. Once, when she was attending a Miranda Lambert concert at the Jones County Fair a young man was riding a bicycle and was staring at them. Jennie yelled “are you trying to impress us with your bicycle? We know why you have to ride that!” (Assuming he lost his license). From early on in life she liked to sleep with her pound puppy. People liked Jennie but you didn’t want to cross her!

Jennie was a woman who lived life with her foot on the gas! I’m told she drove that way also. Her friends remember her red GEO. She was a terrible driver and all her friends insisted they drive when traveling or . . . they needed to make sure they had their Xanex. Jennie drove fast, weaved in and out of traffic, and would often drive over curbs or parking blocks.

When she babysat Lacey she scared the kids by driving along and then taking the keys out of the ignition. Once, when she accelerated Alison’s drink spilled all over her. Jenny promptly stopped at Shop Ko, went inside opened a hair dryer, plugged it in, and started drying her pants! Another time the friends were in two cars traveling down the highway and when Jennie’s car passed them, she was mooning them! Jennie loved to sing Karaoke. I’m told the quality of her singing was directly impacted by the amount of alcohol she had consumed.

Add to this Jennie’s terrible sense of direction and her propensity to be late, and travel became very interesting with her. She stayed at the same hotel every time she went to Peoria for treatment but . . . she was never able to get to it without getting lost.

Jennie loved her family and her friends. She had a great relationship with her sisters. She was protective of her nieces. She told both Sydney and Taylor there were sometimes bullies at school and if anyone ever tried to bully them they should let her know and she would take care of them! (And we know she would have!) She said she had people in the school looking out for them!

She loved all children. No matter how bad she felt, she always had something to give to kids. She was like everyone’s favorite aunt . . . not just to her nieces and nephews, but also to the children of all her friends. Sometimes Jennie would show up at Ron’s when Amanda was working and let her know that she was taking Amanda’s kids for the night! When Sarah was in the hospital under heavy medication, Jennie tried to convince her to sign her kids over to her! And she was always trying to be helpful! Once Mandy found her helping Cole with his math homework even though Jennie had no idea how to solve the problems.

Jennie also loved animals. She would always bring Mable homemade dog bones. Ladybug was Jennie’s companion and guardian. There is a thought that Ladybug refused to die until she could see Jennie to the end. She loved Bubba just as much. She even enjoyed the neighborhood dogs. The only dog she wasn’t fond of was Charlie, a dog they inherited from Jason’s brother. Apparently, Charlie was a little too wild and would sometimes pee on Jennie’s friends!

Jennie could not stand road kill. It made her gag. Once, when a group of friends were traveling and they came upon a truck filled with live turkey’s. For some reason Jennie couldn’t stop gagging! Angie tried to video tape it but she ended up tapping herself asking how to make the camera look at Jennie!

Jennie loved to watch movies . . . especially scary movies. She enjoyed the Halloween movies, Hannibal and others like that. She enjoyed Rosanne on television and was eagerly anticipating new episodes that will be starting soon. And . . . anyone who knew Jenni knew she loved Miranda Lambert. Even in these last weeks she was trying to convince her sisters they should all go to one of her concerts that was coming soon.

Jennie was a social person. She would talk to anyone and everyone no matter where she was or what they looked like. Once when in Peoria there was a group of rough guys in the hot tub and Jenny just got in and started visiting with them. She seemed to see strangers as the friends she hadn’t met yet.

Jennie loved to travel. She loved being on the beach on the ocean. She loved Mexico which she visited several times. She went with Alison, Angie, and with Jason. She traveled to Texas, and she enjoyed her trip to Disneyworld with one of her nurses. She was determined to meet Belle! She loved the giant Turkey Legs on a stick. She swam with the dolphins and took advantage of any other opportunity that was given to her. She was always up for a road trip to anywhere.

While she was in Mexico with Alison she met Kim who was with her brother who was also suffering from cancer. Jennie struck up a conversation and Jennie and Alison spent the rest of the trip with them. Kim came to Jennie’s wedding and Jennie attended her brother’s funeral. Jennie knew how to make friends. She was not a petty person. She didn’t hold it against someone if they didn’t come and see her regularly. She cherished every friendship for what it was.

Once she and her friends signed up for a “Color Run” as part of Jennie’s crew. There were lots and lots of people. By the time they finally made it to the start Jennie decided she was going to sit the race out.

You never had to guess what Jennie was thinking. She told you. Sometimes she told in very direct words! And if you got on to a subject Jennie cared about . . . you didn’t need to bother to try to change the subject. Jennie was going to be heard! She had opinions and expressed them clearly.

Jennie’s obituary said Jason was her “significant other” but he was really her husband. They were not married legally (because of the cost of medical treatments) but I believe they were married in the eyes of God. They declared their love in front of their family and friends and had a great time at their reception. To make her wedding special Jennie wanted centerpieces that were filled with water and live goldfish. However, before the wedding could get started all the goldfish died. She wanted to walk down the aisle to “Single Ladies”. Her friends vetoed that idea.

Jason was a great partner for Jennie. He understood her. He took great care of her and protected her as much as she would let him. He also gave her the freedom she needed (as if he could have stopped her!) He understood that her ranky times did not mean she didn’t love him . . . it just meant she wasn’t feeling good.

When Jennie was diagnosed with cancer at 26 years old they told her she had probably five years to live. The news upset all of us. Jennie however declared she was not going to go easily! And she didn’t! She fought through numerous surgeries, countless treatments, and the disappointment that came after twice being told she was in remission. She fought that cancer for 13 years. She was someone everyone who treated her will never forget. She made an impact on her Doctors, nurses, and on the patients with whom she spent time. Jennie may not have lived a long time, but her impact, her influence, was extensive.

Jennie was blessed with a group of friends and a family who stood by her side throughout her battle. They took her to appointments, went on vacations, and savored life together. For those of us watching what was happening, it was inspiring to watch.

Over the years when others died, Jennie suffered from “survivor’s guilt. When Mikhaila died and then when Lee Clark died, Jennie didn’t understand why she was still alive. She was ready. She made her peace with her condition. She lived right up until the end. Right before she died she was trying to plan a surprise 40th birthday party for Alison where they were going to have balloons with 40 shades of blue (no one knows where she planned to find said balloons). Jennie Maddox was an inspiration for all of us. She taught us what it means to die with dignity and to live with enthusiasm.

Proverbs 31:25 describes a godly woman saying, “She is clothed with strength and dignity and she laughs without fear of the future.” That is a very good description of Jennie Maddox.

The apostle Paul wrote,

7We now have this light shining in our hearts, but we ourselves are like fragile clay jars containing this great treasure. This makes it clear that our great power is from God, not from ourselves.

8We are pressed on every side by troubles, but we are not crushed. We are perplexed, but not driven to despair. 9We are hunted down, but never abandoned by God. We get knocked down, but we are not destroyed. 10Through suffering, our bodies continue to share in the death of Jesus so that the life of Jesus may also be seen in our bodies. (2 Corinthians 4:7-10)

Paul says he could keep going because he believed there was more to life than simply what we can see and experience. He believed there was purpose in suffering; and there is more to life than what we see here and now. I believe Jennie believed the same thing.

It was Jesus who said,

I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world.”

The Bible is a reliable historical record of the experiences and teachings of those who sought to follow God. It is an accurate record of the life of Jesus. The Bible tells us that this man was like no other. He taught with a penetrating authority. He performed miracles that connected the supernatural and the natural worlds. And then He died without a fight. The Bible tells us the reason He died, was to give His life as a sacrifice for us: to make it possible for us to live, even after we die.

The Bible tells us that God is holy and pure. Any sin, any deviation from God’s commands, erects a barrier between us and God. Though we think our good deeds somehow cancel out our bad deeds, it is not true. When we do good things, we are just “turning in our assignment”; doing what we are supposed to do. We aren’t doing anything worthy of extra credit. Consequently, our sin debt just keeps growing. Like someone who continues to pile up unpaid parking tickets, we deserve God’s Judgment for our continual rebellion.

Jesus, we are told, was the only sinless man to ever live. He was the only man who didn’t have a debt that needed to be paid to God. Jesus traded His life for ours. Because He was the Son of God, His life had sufficient value to cover the sin of everyone who would put their trust in Him.

It’s a pretty powerful story but we are right to ask, “How do we know it is true?” The answer is simple: Easter. Jesus came back from the dead. He appeared to hundreds at various times. He told the disciples that those who embrace Him, rely on Him, and follow Him, will also live even though they die.

For those who embrace these truths, these facts change everything about how we view this day. We do not view this as a day of emptiness. We don’t view it as a day that focuses on Jennie losing her battle to cancer. Instead, we see it as the day when Jennie graduated; the day when faith became sight; when the struggles of life are traded for the glory of Heaven.

That’s what life holds for those who put their trust in Him. Several years ago, I was sitting in the restaurant in town and Jennie slid in the seat across from me. She said she had two requests: First, she said, “I would like you to baptize me.” I asked her, “Why?” (I wanted to make sure she was not merely “covering her bases” with God.) She said, “I want to do this to testify to my faith in Christ.” I reminded her that getting baptized doesn’t get us into Heaven. If we didn’t really believe in and trust Jesus as God who became man to save us, all baptism did was get us wet. She told me she understood that faith in Christ was what saved her. I told her I would set up a time for her baptism. On June 22, 2014 she was immersed as a follower of Jesus Christ. As I recall she rushed to be the very first person to be baptized that day. She was eager to declare publicly her desire to follow Christ.

The second thing she said was, “I want to ask you if you would do my funeral.” I suggested there was no guarantee that I would still be alive but . . . I would be honored to do her funeral. She was pleased. As hard as she fought against the cancer she was ever the realist. She knew what was ahead and prepared to face it when it came.

I wish Jennie had come to church more often. I wish we had had more conversations about walking with Christ. It would have nice if she could have cleaned up her language a little bit (smile). But more than anything I would have liked to see her grow deeper so God’s peace would have been deeper as well. However, we are not made right with God because of what we learn or because of eliminating certain behaviors. We are made right with God because Jesus died for broken people like me, like you, and like Jennie.

I believe Jennie was victorious last Monday. She taught us about how to live fully and how to die with dignity and with grace. I don’t think a person can really live life until they face the question of what happens after we die. This is because life is hard at times. You either believe there is something beyond the hardship, or you despair. I believe Jennie saw beyond the finish line. Her courage came from a supernatural strength.

Today is a day for us to reflect on the true nature of life. In the book of Ecclesiastes Solomon says it is better to go to a funeral than to a party (Ecclesiastes 7) because funerals force us to face the essential questions of life. A party, is just a way to escape reality for a while. This is a day for us to examine our own faith. It is time for us to look at our relationship with Christ and see if it is genuine and deep, or shallow and superficial. This is the time to ponder the great questions of life: Who do you say Jesus is? Why do you think we are here? What do you believe happens to us after we die?

My favorite moment with Jennie was after a worship service. I was standing at the back door of the church and at the time was going through a divorce that completely devastated me. Jennie was standing nearby and I made an offhand comment to someone that it had been a long time since I had been kissed by a woman. Jennie came up, stood on her tiptoes, and gave me a kiss on the cheek. It was quick and unexpected. Then she walked away without saying anything yet speaking volumes with her actions. Today we all feel a little like I did on that day. Jennie has kissed us on the cheek and now has gone away to something better. We will miss her dearly, but we will remember her kiss forever.

[Song: “Knowing what I know about Heaven]

We come to a funeral to reaffirm faith, rekindle hope, and remind ourselves of what is truly important in life. So, let me remind you of some of the lessons I think we should learn from the life of Jennie Maddox

People are interesting; all you have to do is give them a chance.

Life is short, you should live enthusiastically.

You should always pay attention to children; their joyful innocence is contagious.

When life is hard, call your friends and family, and hold your pound puppy close.

You really should pay attention when you drive.

The events of life can be seen as fun or tragic; it all depends on your attitude.

“Little Debbies” ease the burdens of life.

When God gives us more than we can handle, He does it to draw us to Him.

Good friends, a great family, and a mate who “gets you” are treasures money can’t buy.

A relationship with Jesus is the key to life; not just here, but forever.

Simple acts of kindness are sometimes profound in their impact.

The wise person takes advantage of funerals to strengthen their faith and renew their commitment to make sure that they will live even though they die.

Let’s pray,

Father, we thank you for the impact of Jennie’s life. We ask you to let her know just how much she meant to so many. Help us to learn from her life and her example. Help us also to learn that you have come to make forgiveness and new life possible for all who believe. Help us to turn to you, trust you, and follow you. Help us to finish well so we will someday see Jennie again as we sing your praises together. Amen.