A Tribute to Myra
Having the opportunity to know Myra Gilchrist will always be a gift in my life. She is the example that comes to mind of what joy in the Lord looks like. Each time we chatted, I left feeling loved by her intentionality and encouraged by her wisdom. On May, 9th 2021, Myra went home to be with her Lord and Savior. Myra was known by many as the gracious, genuine lady who was the first person to welcome them at church. This was just one of the recurring themes at her memorial service. Her love for the Lord was evident in the way she served others, and I would like to highlight a couple ways she did this.
Myra devoted herself to prayer, and she rarely missed a morning prayer gathering at church. When these gatherings went online during the pandemic, she immediately knew that she needed to get a laptop in order to stay connected to the group. She faithfully gave her life to find how she could pray for others. At her memorial, many spoke about how life changing this was, and how they saw God answer these prayers.
She loved people well because she was faithful to her Lord. It was evident that He was the most important thing in her life.
Regularly, Myra opened up her home to others, whether it was someone she had known for decades or someone she had just met. Her generous hospitality was purposeful as she led many to the Lord and helped them continue to grow in their relationships with Him. Inviting people over was such a simple, but tangible way to show Jesus. Her Bible was always out on the counter in her home. It was her life companion, and she was ready for the opportunities the Lord had for her.
As we reflect on the goodness of God through the life of Myra, I think about how we at SWBIBLE now have some very big shoes to fill! I am challenged to love Jesus more and seek out others the way she always did. 1 John 4:19 says, “We love because He first loved us.” We have the perfect example in Jesus of what loving others looks like. He chose to love us to the point of dying on the cross for each and every one of us despite our brokenness.
Please pray along with me and consider how we might continue to serve SWBIBLE and the surrounding community.
How can I seek out others at church or in the community to show them the love of Jesus?
How can I commit to faithfully praying for others like Myra?
How has the Lord gifted me? How am I striving to use those gifts for His Kingdom?
In living this out, it’s never about our good works, but rather we point to our good Savior! We are called to be salt & light in this world and reflect Him.
“You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.” Matthew 5:14-16
Let’s be women who live in the reality of the Scriptures and faithfully devote our lives to Him. May we have an unwavering trust, a thankful heart and a life that reflects our hope and joy in the Lord.
