Love your neighbor as yourself was the answer. It was simple, it was direct and it was true. I slowly looked at the others, and I thought about it some more. Yes, yes, it fits, I concluded.

I'd seen it so many times. Like the time I fumbled my pulsing, damp finger over the record button, p-u-s-h: I had to store this forever; after all, it was Paul's story. A story of a sinful teenage event, and he was the villain! In spite of that, and me, he bravely and nervously shared this, his testimony, with you. Months earlier we had just become members.

A couple years later Paul was traveling, it was cold and my car went into an unexpected and unappreciated hibernation. I needed my car to check and recheck the fact I'd known but no one else had: After ten years of marriage I was finally pregnant! My announcement was cut short by some early bleeding. I had to get to the hospital for an ultrasound and consult. No car, no husband. I anxiously and discreetly made phone calls to those close by. Soon I had a car delivered to my door, no questions asked. Everyone was happy and (acted) surprised at our announcement.

One happy event and another. My youngest sister was to be wed in May of 1995. There were the matters of the shower, the bridesmaid dresses, the baby's outfit ... and then the tragic few nights before the wedding when Dad's and my phone conversation was interrupted by the emergency operator to say, "Come now she thinks she's dying." With the family convening at Mom's bedside, she told us to go to the wedding. With her conviction and our bewilderment, we drove five hours south for the wedding. My sister wed, and Mom suffered, but not alone. You had called the pastor in Madison, Wis., and, bedside, he held Mom's hand during the very hour her youngest daughter was saying wedding vows. He was a man whom Mom had never met; he was someone she'd never forget.

Mom never forgot her visit here, either. While waiting to become a grandmother, she witnessed outpourings of food, gifts, phone calls and prayer like I suspect she'd never seen before. She left the day after Mirielle was born trusting and knowing that all was well because of you.

New Year's Eve Mom trusted again and let the Lord lead her home. Cards, food, prayers and phone calls came again.

I wander back to Christmas of '95 and remember this incredible woman I call Mom thoughtfully answering the question my sisters and I had asked, "My philosophy of life goes along with the golden rule: 'Love your neighbor as yourself,' " she slowly and quietly said. It was her philosophy...His second greatest command.

You have loved us in our triumphs and in our valleys. Thank you.