October 31, 1930 – October 2, 2021
The Story, told by Jacques Merine
“She speaks with wisdom, and faithful instruction is on her tongue.” Proverbs 31:26
I remember as a young man when I met my wife-to-be. Marie was living in the Carrefour area, and I was living in downtown Port au Prince. When I wanted to go see her, I needed to take a tap-tap, but I did not have money to do that. I remember going to my mother each time and asking her to give me 50 cents. The tap-tap cost 25 cents to go to Carrefour and 25 cents to return home. When I asked my mom for transportation money to go see my girl friend, she had such tremendous trust in me that she would tell me where she had the little bit of money she had saved. Even recently before she passed away, she told me she remembered that when she would tell me to go get money for transportation, I “would not take one single penny more” than what she told me to take. She always repeated that to me, and it melted my heart to know she had fully trusted me.
After my father passed away in 1988, my mother moved to the Carrefour area where she served the Lord and finished raising her children. Then twenty one years ago, I brought her to the U.S. where she depended on me and my other sisters and brother to care for her. She loved all of us very much, including her grandchildren. With seventeen grandchildren and 5 great grandchildren, she did not always remember every name but she was always very, very excited to see each one.
“She is clothed with strength and dignity; she can laugh at the days to come.” Proverbs 31:25
My mother is the gentlest person I have ever known. I never remember a time she was upset with any one of us. She was never tired. She always found a way to work things out. Sometimes things could be very bad, but she made good out of it. She was a precious person to me. I thank God that she was my mother. I really just can talk and talk and talk of memories.
My mother loved God. I have never seen a day when she did not sing, pray, and praise God – every day in my life since I was a young man. And I truly believe that the way my mother lived helped all her children to become who we are today. She was a role model for me. That’s one of the reasons today I can leave the United States and go back to Haiti to help children because of what she planted in me. Time after time, I think, “I don’t know whether there would ever be a Source of Life Ministries without the example of her life.” Thank you mom because you helped me to think about others. Every child, every adult who is impacted through Source of Life Ministries is to your credit!
“Her children arise and call her blessed;” Proverbs 31:28a
So today I would like to celebrate her. Yes, I miss her dearly, but I would like to celebrate her life. This is a complete blessing from God. Mom, I love you. I will miss you. I will miss your smile. I will remember everything about you from my young age because you helped me to be who I am today. And I will never forget you. I’m praying one day I can see you again and we will be together forever. I will celebrate that. Thank you God for her life. Thank you God for blessing her with so many years. I feel very fortunate to have you in my life for that long. I love you so much and may you rest in peace.
“Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised.
Honor her for all that her hands have done, and let her works bring her praise at the city gate.” Proverbs 31:30-31