Betty Salas
I wasn’t sure that I would have the courage or the strength to speak to you today about Betty, but then I remembered so many of our conversations and the instructions she would give me on how she wanted things done and there was no way I was going to be the one that didn’t follow Betty’s instructions! Betty knew exactly what she wanted and how she wanted it done and there was no arguing with her. You just did as she wanted and everything was good! Several weeks ago I was visiting Betty and she was uncomfortable but still wanted things in the room shifted around. She had me busy for about the first 20 minutes I was there, and as I was finishing getting a pillow by her feet straight, I looked up at her just as she told me, “You follow directions pretty good.” I told her I was not going to be the one that didn’t follow her directions, and then we laughed like crazy. When we worked together at the base branch of the credit union, I might have had the title, but Bet was really the boss. She graciously let me hold the title while she made sure everything worked just like it was supposed to. There were times working with Bet that you would end up laughing so hard you would cry. You’d have to walk away from each other just so you could stop the giggles. Bet loved her job and she never missed a day unless she could not physically get into the building. She cared about everything that same way, including the loves of her life, her husband and family.
One day at work, I was behind the teller line and answered the phone because Betty had a member. It was Richard on the phone and he told me to tell Betty that he wasn’t going. I asked him what he was talking about and he said, “Just tell her I’m not going.” Well, I started to put down the phone to tell Bet, and then told him, “I’m not telling her that.” He said, “It’s okay, just tell her I’m not going and see what she says.” I told him, “Okay, it’s your funeral.” So, I told Betty, “Bet, Richard is on the phone for you and he says he isn’t going.” Without even looking up from her task or missing a beat in helping the member she said, “Tell him Oh yes he is going and I’ll let him know when we are going!” She knew exactly what he was talking about. Before she came to work that day, she had called in a radio station and won tickets for the river of lights and Richard had heard her win them. That is what 47 years of marriage does; it makes a bond so tight that sometimes words don’t have to be spoken. It also makes a bond so tight that only death will separate the two that God has joined together. Both Richard and Bet, kept that promise to each other.
Bet loved to pray and to be prayed for. Everyday while she was waiting for the credit union to open, she would pray for all those in her care, her family and her friends, anyone that she knew needed prayer. Anytime anything went wrong or anybody needed prayer, Bet and I would pray over the situation. When she got sick again, she was at peace with the fact that she might die. One of the last times I prayed with her, I told her that I was praying for her all the time and she told me that she was praying for her too. She said, “I have been praying a lot for myself.” That is the only time I heard her speak of praying for herself. Even in prayers, she prayed for others first and herself second. I have always believed that when we pray for others, God always takes care of the prayers we need for ourselves. Many times I have needed prayer and someone has called to let me know that they are praying for me, without even knowing why I need prayer. I am confident that God did the same for Bet during her illness.
The good news is that we will see Betty again. The Bible tells us that for those who have trusted in Christ as their Savior and Lord of their life, that to be absent from the body is to be present with Christ.
2 Corinthians chapter 5 verses 1 through 8, “1.For we know that if our earthly house, this tent, is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. 2. For in this we groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed with our habitation which is from heaven. 3. if indeed, having been clothed, we shall not be found naked. 4. For we who are in this tent groan, being burdened, not because we want to be unclothed, but further clothed, that mortality may be swallowed up by life. 5. Now He who has prepared us for this very thing is God, who also has given us the Spirit as a guarantee. 6. So we are always confident, knowing that while we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord. 7. For we walk by faith, not by sight. 8. We are confident, yes, well pleased rather to be absent from the body and to be present with the Lord.”
Our bodies were only meant for a temporary dwelling for our spirits. There are many more verses in the Bible that explain an eternity in Heaven with Christ and you can know today that like Betty, your eternity will be in Heaven.
I envision Bet dancing in Heaven, she did love to dance. One of the last Christmas parties she went to she was sore for 2 days because of all the dancing she did! She has no pain, no sickness, her tent has been further clothed and her mortality has been swallowed up by life, eternal life because she trusted in Christ as her Savior! I also believe she will continue in prayer for those who need prayer and her prayers now go directly to the throne on our behalf.
When Bet gave me my instructions, she asked me to speak her eulogy and a prayer. To honor her final wishes, I have written this prayer for her. I don’t want anyone to tell her I didn’t do as I was told!!
Heavenly Father,
You gave us a woman who embodied the highest definition of compassion and caring.
Who chose time and time again to go out of her way to comfort, encourage, teach, and laugh.
A woman you gave your wisdom to sort through the meaningless details to get to the heart of a matter.
A woman whose dislike for clutter was at times the beginning of laughter so hard that we cried.
A woman so focused and direct that no one ever had any doubt what she wanted.
A woman who was not shy about making things right and giving insight into exactly what someone had done wrong.
A woman who was fearless defending those that could not defend themselves when life had knocked them down.
A woman who loved her family and her friends with a love so loyal that no one ever doubted she cared about them.
A woman, whose trust once earned, gave us the privilege of being invited in to share a part of life with her.
A woman who always made room at her table for us.
Each person here Lord, will take with them a part of the precious life that you created especially for us in the person of Betty Salas.
From her, we learned what is most important in life, God first, family and friends next and everything else after that.
And, as we learn to walk this life without her, give us peace Father, your peace, and time to remember all that she meant to us until we see her again in Heaven, and we will see her again.
Bet, you told me that you would be honored to have me speak at your service and while I don’t normally disagree with you, it is I who am honored to speak about you and your life well lived. I love you Bet.
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