https://www.angelfire.com/mi2/robhenderson/
robnaomi@oceana.net
Born September 10, 1914
Died October 17, 2000
Fern Strickfaden passed away early Tuesday morning October 17, 2000 at the Oceana Medical Care Facility in Hart, Michigan. She was born September 10, 1914 in Shelby, Michigan to Del and Katie Swinton as the youngest of five children. Fern married Theodore Strickfaden on June 2, 1936 in Ganges, Michigan. Fern was a housewife, mother, laborer at the Oceana Canning Factory, and a telephone operator in Shelby. She was preceded in death by her husband on September 8, 1988. Also going on before her were her brothers Raymond and Ernest Swinton and both sisters Lottie Houghton and Goldie Shafer. Fern is survived by her daughter Sandy and Al Bennet, and grandchildren Lisa Bennett, Mark and Wendy Bennett, and Chris and Stacey Bennett. Great-grandchildren include Marcia, Jennifer, Erica, Chelsea, Julia, and Tabitha. And of course, nieces and nephews.
“Her children rise up and call her blessed, her husband also and he praises her: “Many daughters have done well but you have excelled them all.” Charm is deceitful and beauty is vain, but a woman who fears the Lord she shall be praised. Give her of the fruit of her hands and let her own works praise her in the city gates.” -Proverbs 31
Jesus says: “Let not your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me. In my Father’s house are many rooms; if it were not so I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you with me that you also may be where I am.” John 14:1-3
Paul declares: “In all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all of creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 8:37-39
We are gathered here today to celebrate the life of a beautiful lady. Her life personified the fullness that one can achieve without the monetary means that we think we need. To Fern, life was an adventure: such as a poem ready to burst with song. Anne of Green Gables explains that the real poem is the soul within the lines and verses. Fern’s lines and verses reflected the depths of her soul. Her many talents and gifts continued to grow as she continued to learn. Her life was certainly one to be remembered and honored with our cherished memories.
We will miss her. I will miss reminding her of who I am whenever I would visit. Sandi, you will miss your mother’s sweet spirit and kindness; you will miss someone who loved you dearly and deeply. Lisa, Mark, and Chris- you will miss an incredible grandmother. Perhaps she didn’t stand on her head but she was devoted to you. And grandgirls- you will miss a great-grandmother whose smile captured your soul and melted your heart. Those who knew her best will miss her most. And the world will continue on at an incredible pace; a rat-race that threatens our sanity. But in these few moments I trust that we, together, can cling to a few memories that can be valued eternally and listen to words of hope that will set our souls free.
Special Music by Naomi Henderson- “In the Garden”
David writes these memorable words and quite likely the most popularly read scripture: Psalm 23
The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures; he leadeth me beside the still waters. he restoreth my soul; He leadeth me in paths of righteousness for his names sake. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for though art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. Thou preparest a table in the presence of mine enemies; thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life; and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.
There is just one point that I would like to make this day that I trust will bring comfort to our hearts yet a challenge to our lives; a point of truth that David discovered and we have found refuge in the times of frustration and anguish: The Lord is my Shepherd.
The Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not want.
He makes me to lie down in green pastures: Why? Because the Lord is my shepherd.
He leads me beside the quiet waters: Why? Because the Lord is my shepherd.
He refreshes my soul: Why? Because the Lord is my shepherd.
He leads me in paths of righteousness: Why? Because the Lord is my shepherd.
In the valley of the shadow of death I will fear no evil: Why? Because the Lord is my shepherd.
There are those who want to hurt me but I will sit in the presence of my enemies: How? Because the Lord is my shepherd.
He heals my broken spirit, he blesses me more than I ask for: Why? because the Lord is my shepherd.
Goodness and love will be a part of my life: Why? Because the Lord is my shepherd.
I will dwell with the Lord in His house forever: Why? Because the Lord is my shepherd.
Beside me hang the many ribbons that Fern won at the Oceana County Fair for her ceramics. She loved to make things with her hands and was a perfectionist. She molded and produced beautiful works of ceramic art. The Bible tells us that each of our lives is like a ceramic pot being formed by the potter’s hands. Your life and my life is like a jar of clay- fragile yet invaluable. Who are we to put a price tag on one person’s life over another? Each person is God’s workmanship and created with dignity deserving of respect regardless of their ethnic or social background. This jar of clay cannot make it through life without something bigger to hang onto.
That is why the LORD is my Shepherd. You see, there is a nasty world out there that doesn’t care about you or me. There are those who are out to take advantage of us, use us, abuse us, and throw us away. But you see, the LORD is my Shepherd.
Who is my Shepherd? David didn’t write: The Enemy is my Shepherd even though he had enemies who wanted to kill him. He didn’t write My Friends is my Shepherd, even though he probably had friends who really did care about him. No, he wrote “the LORD is my Shepherd.”
Not my boss, not my job, not my school, not my neighbor, not the bank, not the government, not the insurance company, not the doctor, not social security, not any of these things.
The LORD is my Shepherd.
Now let me warn you, there is an enemy of your soul out there who wants to divide your allegiance to God and make you live your life as though you had four or five shepherds. Satan is always striving to bring strife. He hates you, but God loves you. And God wants to be your shepherd. He wants to bring peace to your busy life and security to your not-so-secure world.
Fern knew who was her Shepherd. I have no doubt that the LORD was her Shepherd.
Fern was a woman of commitment. She was committed to her husband. In the final years of his life she insisted on taking care of him. She was committed to caring for her family. Sandi recalls the concern that her mother had when German prisoners were being kept in what is now the Shelby High School football stadium. Fern wanted her family to be safe from harm.
Her commitment to Jesus Christ came full force in the mid-70’s when her and Ted were baptized by Rev. Rob Tripp of Shelby Wesleyan Church. Though they did not become members per se, they did become active members of the kingdom of God and that is what really matters.
You see, for Fern the LORD was her Shepherd. And just as she was committed to the keeping of her family so was her commitment to God in keeping her pledge of being a servant of Jesus Christ.
Yes, no doubt the LORD was her shepherd.
Not only must I realize that the LORD is my shepherd, but I must come to understand what it means for the Lord to be my Shepherd.
Unlike human relationships that are created between imperfect human beings, our relationship with the Lord as our Shepherd is not one of yesterday and gone today but is a relationship that is here and now. You see, the Lord IS my Shepherd.
Today, right now, at this present time- the Lord IS my Shepherd.
Fern and Ted were more than just husband and wife- they were friends. Their relationship was featured in the Oceana Herald. Fifty-two years of marriage says a lot about a couple’s character and their approach to marriage as a bond of two people. They learned to never go to bed angry, listen to one another, and look out for the interests of the other. Their relationship was one that was in the present.
Just as our relationship with the Lord as our Shepherd should be. Our relationship with God should be in the now- today, not yesterday; today, not tomorrow. Right now is with us and we must carry on.
Fern’s life was carved out of difficult times. Her high school class made their own year-book- literally. She created, from a used military parachute, a wedding dress that was a work of art. Without television to occupy her time, Fern was a voracious reader. She loved music and would often play the organ for her family. Despite the difficult times that brought a nation and community together, Fern was a woman who loved to learn. And it was this desire that molded her character and caused her to stand out from the crowd.
As a child she attended church. This Bible I hold was given to her by her mother for her birthday nearly 70 years ago. The seeds that were planted in her heart were watered and God gave the increase.
We can cast blame here or there for our plight. We can wish for better circumstances to live in but yet Fern’s life was one without complaint. We can pray for better but prepare for the worst. What’s the old saying? “Pray for miracles but plant cabbages.”
We can desire better. We can long for a meaningful relationship with God and then put off doing the right thing. But the bottom line is that it is really up to us. We can have a right relationship with God right now- not tomorrow or next year or when things slow down. But now.
How do we do that? What must I do to assure myself that the Lord is my shepherd.
It begins by confessing your need for God. I cannot take my next breath without God’s grace giving me that breath. The Bible tells us that all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. I remember a math teacher I had in high school who held a high standard that I could never achieve. I was frustrated continually. Dr. SD Herron, the president of the Bible College I attended never gave out A’s for Greek class. His belief was that if you received an A then that meant you had mastered the Greek language.
And it is even more so with God. To be perfect enough for God to accept us is impossible. We were born with a sin nature that leaned us toward wrong.
But God’s love for us wanted to make things right.
You see, at just the right time Jesus Christ died on the cross for us so that we can have forgiveness of sins and granted a right standing with God. And today, the Holy Spirit wants to do more than comfort your hurting soul, He wants you to see that the Lord is you shepherd.
Right here right now.
If you are not a Christian and the Lord is not your shepherd I want to pray a prayer for you follow along. I am going to ask that we all bow our heads and close our eyes for a moment. If you want to accept Jesus Christ into your life or perhaps you want to renew your faith just simply pray this:
“Heavenly Father, I confess my sinfulness to you right now. I am a sinner who desperately needs You right now. Forgive me of my sins and I accept Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior. Thank you, Jesus, for dying on the cross for my sins. In Jesus name, Amen.”
If you have prayed this simple prayer of faith then the Lord is your Shepherd.
Did you catch that? He is YOUR shepherd. Didn’t David say the Lord is MY shepherd.
The Lord is not someone else’s shepherd that I am borrowing for the day. This isn’t some Rent-a-Shepherd service. He is MY Shepherd. My- a possessive noun.
Do any of us really own anything? Take your typical nuclear family. The house is likely still owned by the bank with subsequent payments monthly, the family automobile is own by the bank also, with payments and insurance coverage’s. How about the furniture? Many families owe on the funriture they sit on or sleep in or eat off of or watch. And maybe even the medical or dental care is owed for. We are a nation addicted to debt.
But there is one thing that I have that I do not need to pay for- ever: always- my Shepherd.
In the book Anne’s House of Dreams, our dear Anne of Green Gables was preparing for marriage. Young Doctor Gilbert Blythe was telling his bride-to-be about the new house that he had purchased for them. Anne, being the curious skinny type, couldn’t help but ask “What is it like?”
“There’s a splendid living room with a fireplace in it downstairs and a dining room that looks out on the harbor, and a little room that will do for my office.” He goes on to share about the history and then the purchase of the furniture that will remain. Anne nodded with cautious approval. “But Gilbert, people cannot live by furniture alone. You haven’t mentioned one very important thing. Are there trees about this house?”
“Heaps of them! There is a big grove of fir trees behind it, two rows of Lombardy poplars down the lane, and a ring of white birches around a very delightful garden...”
“Oh, I’m so glad! I couldn’t live where there were no trees- something vital in me would starve. Well, after that, there’s no use asking you if there is a brook anywhere near. That would be expecting too much.”
“But there is a brook- and it actually cuts across one corner of the garden.”
“Then,” said Anne, with a long sigh of supreme satisfaction, “this house you have found is my house of dreams and none other.”
And today I must tell you that Fern has arrived to her house of dreams. What a joyous reunion today as she sees for the first time the resting place for the next thousand years and beyond. Revelation 22 gives us this promise of what heaven will be like: There will be trees: The tree of life will be blooming, bearing leaves that are for healing and it will be growing on both sides of the river of life.
She is enjoying this reunion because she could easily say with satisfaction “The Lord is my shepherd.”
As the Shelby High School class of 1932 graduated they heard these words from their class poet who was also the most bashful:
Class Poem
With the coming of the Springtime.
When the skies are blue and fair,
Nature covers up the darkness
With gay colors here and there.
So is it with the Spring of Life,
When things seem dull and drear,
Nature adds a bit of color
By a smile or word of cheer.
In the past four years of school days
Each a tiny model made,
And the plans of each one’s future
Are about his model laid.
Now and then a block may crumble
And we tremble, lest it fall;
But a little added labor
Soon rebuilds the broken wall.
Now we view our finished models
In the four years of the past,
In the dimly lighted future
See our structures rise and last.
Some are tall and massive buildings
Ever reaching for the sky,
Some have small, more certain stairways
Leading to those turrets high.
Yes, we have a lonely feeling
Yet we know that skies are blue.
We have a future to fulfill
And life takes on a rosy hue.
We appreciate our teachers
And in each we’ve gained a friend
We wish to thank our parents
For their interest till the end.
We now are leaving Shelby High
Our duties here are done
As time goes on, we too must go
Our lives have just begun.
We’ll always carry memories
Those memories of old
That bring us back o’er all the years
To days of “Old Rose and Gold”.
