I just heard Sister Stella Garcia went home to be with the LORD. I have mixed feelings about her passing, ranging from sorrow to joy! Sister Stella has been a faithful friend and member of our Church for the 25 years I have known her. I remember working with her and Brother Carlos as Ushers. She was a hard worker and though her husband was officially “in charge” Sister Stella had a way of making sure things got done. She has been in my prayers for many years for healing and now she has moved to the answered prayer list.
I can’t imagine the pain Brother Carlos, her husband of 57 years, is going through right now. She wasn’t just part of his life, they were one. After years of suffering with her through an illness that was supposed to have ended her life years ago, he knows his dear wife is completely healed. Though she is rejoicing in Heaven, he won’t know what to do with himself for a while. He has always been the image of strength and calm determination in their family, but that was with Sister Stella by his side.
Sister Stella “trained up her children in the way they should go” (Prov 22:6) and now they won’t depart. Each one is successful in their own right, they are “training up” another generation. She personally worked with her special needs grandson who wasn’t supposed to walk. He’s not only walking, but rides his three wheeled cycle and graduated college. Now this fine young man teaches Sunday School and is preaching the Gospel on the internet.
So how did this minority female, born into a poor family in Hondo, Texas accomplish so much? Yes, she struggled through many hard times, had a family who loved and supported her, married a hard working man, but many had those and failed! Was she perfect? No, but Sister Stella came to know JESUS and accepted Him as her Lord and Savior! He washed away her sins and made her part of His family. But you say, that doesn’t guarantee a successful life! You are right, but there is so much more than salvation available to the believer!
Sister Stella heard the word of faith preached, believed and applied it to her life! She renewed her mind by reading GOD’s word (Rom 12:2) again and again! When she stepped out in faith, GOD was faithful and that let her believe for more. She didn’t stop there, but worked faithfully in her Church (Heb 10:25) so others would come to know the JESUS as their savior. As she did that, her children “learned” more by her godly example than books could teach them. Sister Stella walked in the power of the HOLY SPIRIT, who was her comforter (John 14:26) and when she didn’t know what to pray, He helped with “groans that could not be uttered” (Rom 8:26). The HOLY SPIRIT transformed that little lady into a warrior who made demons tremble. That power is also available to you!
You can have that same successful life because “God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life” (John 3:16 KJV). Sister Stella Garcia believed and so after a life well-lived, she did not “perish” today, but entered into “everlasting life!”
Wayne Lance