Carolyn Schearll Kennedy

Although this testifies a lot of truth, it is perhaps trumped when we who inhabit this terrestrial topography encounter a person whose underlying roots are spread far and deep as a result of years of growth that comes from being planted in the soil of faith.

It is a soil that may not appear to be the choicest for a good and happy life to ensue. The conditions may look desolate, windy, and unprotected from the elements. The subsurface soil may be that of hard clay and dense rock that bring roots face to face with encounters of challenging obstacles that must be overcome with strength to find the nourishment it needs to survive.

In contrast, growth that occurs with ideal soil conditions, in an ideal climate, while protected from the wiles of the environment may produce a beautiful looking specimen, its roots won’t have the structure developed for life beyond that of its sheltered and unchallenged environment. Then when adversity is encountered it cannot endure.

Carolyn (Mom) was planted and grown as the former. She went through several decades of life encounters that could well have taken anyone down. Well it did take her down- down to her knees. No matter the problem that arose, no matter the overwhelming sense that it postured, she would nourish herself by growing her roots a bit deeper in to the word of God. Growing her relationship with the Lord to a stronger and more steadfast faith through each trial and tribulation she encountered.

We all go through and get through problems in life. But as she told me, she was determined to not just get through life and its problems, but that she wanted to grow in the knowledge, wisdom, trust, and faith in her Lord through her problems. She said many years ago that she had a verse of purpose set before her: Because the Sovereign Lord helps me, I will not be disgraced. Therefore I have set my face like flint, and I know I will not be put to shame. Isaiah 50:6-8 (Amp). She put that in to practice every day of her life. She would cast away the chatter and folly of the world and cling to the Word she so loved. Often times it took all the courage she had to stand, but I saw her joyous in her heart no matter the test, no matter the pain. The end result was always victory and growth for her- not always from the outside looking in, but always on the inside looking out.

Thumb through her bible that is here today, her most cherished possession, and see the evidence of years of an active pursuit to better know this one she called Lord. – She leaves behind many commentaries and books that she not only read, but studied along with the bible, for decades, to further her knowledge and relationship with the Lord. I never asked her a question she could not answer with the Word. Even when discussions got deep she answered my questions of Israel and its place from history to future, questions of why this and why that, even questions of our beginning and why did God create, who created God, why would he create if he knew it would be a fallen world, besides prophesy what else is the book of revelation communicating with us?

She understood what some call the scarlet thread that runs throughout the Word, tying it all together in Jesus Christ. She not only knew it herself but could articulate and share it with others. I learned so much from her and am so grateful, and I speak for my sisters, nieces, nephews, father, and many other family members and friends that fellowshipped with her. I only wish I had more time with her to learn and study more. But she planted, and harvests will follow.

She often said that money and possessions on this earth were not for us to horde and stash for ourselves, but rather we were conduits to let the blessings we might receive keep going through us to another and not for it to just stop with us. – If you were in a conversation with her and sharing with her part of your life, she truly had no other distracting thought in the world, but was in that moment with you and all her concentration was with you. She truly cared about people. She was polite, classy, loving, caring, giving, and a great listener, never at a loss for heartening words in another’s time of need, or in one’s time of joy.

We put to rest a beautiful woman today; a woman whose main concern in life was not herself, but others and their needs and concerns. We say goodbye to a woman that was rooted deep in her faith. Faith that was grown through adversity, one of whom adversity was not just lost on, but which resulted in gain and growth with her heavenly relationship. One of the last truths I heard her say a few weeks back was- it was her duty and pleasure to glorify the Lord no matter her circumstances – at the time she said it, it was through winces of pain. Winces not for attention, but winces that could not always be contained.

We know where she is today, a place with no more winces, no more groans, no more pain, with a glorified body given to her by the one she spent her lifetime getting to know, Jesus Christ. We will miss you dearly, but we are so happy for you knowing you are now in your real home. Thank you so much for your teaching, your example, and for the demonstrative torch you left behind. We gained from your giving while with us, although you would never claim victory for the person of Carolyn yourself, but rather for the Holy Spirit that resided within the person of Carolyn. Amen.

Thus says the Lord: Heaven is My throne, and the earth is My footstool. What kind of house would you build for Me? And what kind can be my resting place? For all these things my hand has made, and so all these things have come in to being [by and for Me], says the Lord. But this is the [woman] to whom I will look and have regard: [she] who is humble and of a broken or wounded spirit, and who trembles at My word and reveres my commands. Isaiah 66: 1-2 (Amp).