From Jake Sherron

Dylan, 

You're an important part of my life.  I’m thankful for the opportunity your mother gave me to spend time with you.  I consider your mother an excellent friend of mine.  I’m honored to have known her, and along with my wife Mitzi, will miss her greatly.  The memories we have with her bring smiles to our faces because she truly was a gift from God. 

Your mother has been a rare jewel in my life.  There aren’t many who’ve shown me such love and attention.  She was remarkable and took such care to invest in in my family’s life, that at times, it made us laugh.  In fact, while in college, Tonya made the observation that I had only four outfits.  Your mom, naturally caring for me, purchased new clothes for me to wear. The two of you (you were always by her side smiling) walked into church together with a bag full of brand new clothes for me!  She’d surprise me all the time with stuff like this!  

I felt safe around your mother because I knew she wanted the best for me and looked for ways to straighten me up.  She carried herself like this around most people.  She was an excellent mother to you and she was considered a motherly figure by many people. 

Your mother loved her church, Integrity.  You both came to Integrity in 2008.  Your mom was hungry for the word of God and eager to get involved in the church family.  Her personality was amazing and we all immediately were drawn to her.  She became a valuable member of the church because of who she was. She was excellent friends with most of the women and loved to learn about parenting. She was a very teachable person, and loved to learn from the Bible. She was trustworthy, we could trust her with anything.  The leaders could give her a responsibility and rest be assured that it would be done on time and with excellence. Your mother was a leader and a hard worker.  She took her responsibilities very seriously.  Most of all, we are going to miss your mother because she was a great friend to everyone.  As a church family, we will miss her deeply, but we know we will see her again because of what Christ did for her on the Cross. 

When people think of your mom, they immediately think of how great of a mother she was and the incredible love she showed you!  Dylan, you are her sweet peach, her life, her dinner date, her everything. I am very proud of you. You wouldn't be who you are without the love your mother has shown you.  I want you to consider how much your mom loved you.  And why she loved you. She loved you more than the average mom because Christ had loved her and had given her a new heart.  Her desire for you was that you’d grow into a man who loves Jesus and loves other people.  Your young, and my hope is you never forget the wonderful mom you had.  She would teach you to learn the Gospel and be transformed by God’s grace through Jesus, and out of your love for God, to learn from His word and love others as yourself because these are things she did because she she knew God had forgiven her through Christ. 

My prayer for you is that you would not grow angry towards God but would run to Him for He is the only place to run in difficult times.  You can miss your mother, it’s okay.  You can cry over her.  It’s okay to cry over someone so special.  She was a remarkable woman who was loved by Jesus, and because of that... loved others and especially you... Dylan.

The Bible says that angels stretch their necks out in order to gaze into the grace of God that he has shown believers.  Angels are jealous over what your mother is experiencing. She is in heaven with God.  Heaven is wonderful, not because of streets of gold or pearly gates.  Those things become boring after a while.  Heaven is heaven because God is there.  He is more beautiful than anything we could ever imagine.  He has taken Tonya to experience His presence forever, away from all sickness, sin, and frustration.  She is in paradise.  She is with God.  Your mom wants you to know that Jesus is better than life itself.  

Dylan, you’ll always be an important part of my life and I’m looking forward to seeing you grow into a man who understands his need of God’s transforming grace through His Son Jesus.  I will always miss your mom and I’m thankful to have known such a remarkable lady.  

Enjoy His Grace, 
Jake Sherron