Arizona Horizon for July/August

The door opens and she enters - immediately the atmosphere in the room changes. It's beautiful, exciting, and full of life. It's Margie walking in with her big smile, loud voice and kind words of greeting. She begins by asking everyone how they are then proceeds to tell them how beautiful they are or how they should wear that outfit everyday!!!

If Margie Staten were in this building today, there would be a great number of people waiting to speak to her. After we dismissed the service, people would swarm around her, jockeying for position, but whomever she was speaking to at that moment would be, for her, the only person in the room.

Such was the love of this woman for people - friends, family and even new acquaintances. I say new acquaintances because it was never long after she met someone that they were friends from that moment forward. You know what I'm talking about if you think back to the first moment you met her and were startled and then charmed by her loud laugh or answered a barrage of questions about yourself, your family, habits, talents and illnesses. Mom had a way of extracting alarming amounts of information from people without them being fully aware of all they were revealing. Then months later, she would recall the details of that conversation and demand an update on all of your information. She did it because she loved people.

Many of you spent time in her beautiful home and most importantly, at her table. There, you could forget about dieting because if the tempting spread of food didn't get you, her habit of refilling your plate multiple times would. She would make eating what she served you a salvational issue. If you tried to claim you were too full to eat another bite, she would ask, "Do you want to go to heaven?" Well... So we always said "yes" to that question and, of course, to more of her delicious food.

And then there was the food and the beautifully appointed table. For most hostesses, one main course with several side dishes and a dessert was sufficient. Not for mom, the ultimate southern hostess. You couldn't have one dessert. That was a sin! You had to have three or more. One meat choice? Oh no, you had to have two or more!!! If she knew you had food preferences or allergies, she would make dishes to appeal to you as well as the other dishes she had planned. If you ever left Margie's home hungry, the fault was your own. Her table, even crammed to overflowing with food, was always beautifully set. Think of gold-rimmed goblets and strawberry china, lively conversation and a feeling of warmth around your heart and in your stomach, and you might begin to understand her.

Margie's family - her mom, dad and siblings - always looked forward to the times she, Dave and the boys were able to join them for the holidays. Margie loaded up the van with all of her baked goods and down the road they went. She took over the entertainment after dinner. After instructing her nieces that they had to sing, she would follow it up by giving them an offering. She brought her favorite games and always had a new one to teach. Even with all the fun and games, she found a way to insert a devotional at every gathering. They shared plenty of laughs, had lots of fun and created many lasting memories. According to her sisters, there is none other like her.

Mom lived her life to help others. She was a pastor's wife for 26 years, but she ministered to people for much longer than that. As a registered nurse in her early career and then as a caretaker of children until her death, mom always had a listening ear and a whole lot of advice. She never, even to last few weeks of her life, let her own ill health stand in the way of helping someone else. She would give of herself - her time, her money, her love - until it hurt. If there was work to do, she would outlast even those with sound bodies, and then she would invite everyone over for a dinner that she prepared and hosted afterwards. She was - in her home and in her church - a beautiful example of a living sacrifice. She showed her love of the Lord and the work to which she and her husband were called by unflaggingly serving others.

She especially loved her boys and her husband. She was proud of her boys, David and Mark and all that they had become. She was most proud that they had dedicated their lives to God and His service. In fact, she lived her life for them - working for them, promoting their interests, cooking and caring for them, singing with them and rejoicing at each milestone. She was happiest when surrounded by her family, and, especially in the last years of her life, when she held hands with her husband and prayed or talked about the word of God.

This wonderful, vivacious woman, whom we know as Sis Staten, Mary, Margie, mom and (for you, dad) honey, has gone to be with the Lord. And we can only guess that heaven must have needed a greeter. Can you imagine entering that beautiful city and there is Marge with her big, beautiful smile, rosy cheeks, with arms outstretched waiting to give you a big bear hug and a welcome home. No doubt she will take part in the menu planning for the marriage supper of the lamb. She is lifting her powerful, exuberant voice in praise to the one she dedicated her entire life to.

We miss you already, mom, but we know that you can now dance, unimpeded by pain or worry, down those streets of gold as you worship the one to whom you devoted so much of your life.

For the rest of us - who are the better for your having been with us even for a short time - we will strive to remember the lessons of giving and love that you strove to teach us.

(Submitted by Elaine Hogan)