By Rebecca van Noppen
Lynne Dixon passed into eternity this summer.
Many of you won’t know her. Some of you might. In my heartfelt opinion, she left the earth a little too early. There was more life for her to live and to give.
We grieve. We mourn. We remember together and this brings us comfort.
Here are a few words from her life story.
Lynne was a mom’s mom, a woman’s woman. No matter who you were, you were a somebody to Lynne. She was an extraordinary woman who loved to decorate, craft, sew, host, design a house, and organize a conference. Lynne made everyone feel like family, encouraging them to move into God’s destiny, and teaching them how to maximize their skills. As a trusted friend, she gave good counsel and ensured that you never left feeling alone. Lynne grew up in a military family, graduated with honours at Rideau High School and headed to Carleton for a Science degree, until she met her future husband at Algonquin College. She then switched to the Lab Technology Course and graduated with honours. She spent a year crossing Canada on a federal health survey, then married Rob and followed him up to Moose Factory for 5 years where she worked at the hospital. Lynne has sewn outfits for her kids, grandkids, newborn babies and children overseas. She has set up libraries in Africa, neighbourhood Bible studies, been a leader of Woman Alive Ottawa, spoken at Christian Women’s Clubs and led women’s ministries for the Billy Graham event in 1998. However, to Lynne, her greatest achievements are her children and grandchildren. Today, Lynne is probably visiting with old friends while sitting at the feet of Jesus.
When we met
I met Lynne 29 years ago at a time when Dave and I were newlyweds. God was doing some new things in our lives, and Rob and Lynne took us under their wings. They prayed for us, taught us, and modelled a life of love and surrender to Jesus.
Dave and I often hear that we have a great family and awesome kids. Of course, we could take credit, but we know better than that. It’s not about us. There are SO MANY pieces involved in growing into a family unit that is loving and kind, and knows how to wade through conflict and difficulty together. We are still growing and learning, perhaps at new levels, as our children become adults.
But I want to say here that it does take a village of people willing to leave behind a legacy of grace, love, and right living, to guide families in community to this good life of faith in Jesus Christ.
Lynne Dixon was one such person. Lynne has left a legacy of faith and love. Most specifically, she and Rob modelled to us how to pray, worship and spend time in the Scriptures as a family. She also continually modelled a life of hospitality and giving. Without her influence, I don’t believe we would have raised our family the way we have, nor would I have understood the selfless, imperfect ways of welcoming people into our home as a place of hospitality and acceptance.
What Rob and Lynne have given to us is priceless. It’s treasure-in-heaven investment.
And today, as I sit here reflecting on what she has meant to me personally, through the tears and heaviness of many losses over the past 18 months, I am reminded of some of the important questions Dave and I have asked ourselves, and those who come to More Than Enough for financial coaching.
- What kind of legacy will I be leaving my family, my friends, my community?
- What impact of love am I having each and every day in people’s lives?
- What am I investing my time in?
- What does my bank account say about what I value?
- Am I living life from the heart, or merely giving life lip service? As Jesus said in Matthew 15, the religious people drew near to Him with their mouths, but their hearts weren’t in it. Is that how I live in relation to God and others?
On this bright, beautiful, warm sunny, summer day, I think about these things, and I leave them with you. In such unprecedented times of global unrest and economic deterioration, it is time to take the time.
How do you want to be remembered?
Note: In next week’s blog, I will leave you with an exercise that may help you dig into purpose and legacy a bit deeper. Stay tuned.