Wednesday, December 7, 2022
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The first time that I met Maria was in September of 1969 when Marge and I stopped at their home in Wynyard, Saskatchewan, when her husband Henry was pastoring there. At that time, I was dating Marge, and when I first met her oldest sister Maria, I knew that she was the kind of support for her husband that I also needed in the challenges for ministry that would lie ahead in my own journey.
Prior to pastoring in Wynyard, Henry and Maria had ministered in Fisher Bay and St. Laurent to be followed by ministry periods in Altona, Morris, and Niverville. On every location, there were challenges. There would have been opportunities to become embittered and discouraged. But Maria stood faithful to walk in love even when people were not kind. I know that it was not always easy to stand with her husband, and their faithful love for all of the saints bore good fruit wherever they went.
The legacy of her unwavering faith and steadfast commitment to a God who remains faithful is very evident in all of their children, and in their spouses and in their grand children. To my wife and me, she was a mother who role-modelled what it was like to be like Deborah, "a mother in Israel" (Judges 5:7).
The name Israel means "a prince with God," or refers to those who rule and who reign in life with God. Wherever she went, Maria raised up a family, a legacy of those who would rule and reign with God over the challenges in life. What a difference that she made for so many of us, leaving the world better off. Marge and I are eternally grateful!
There were four sisters in the Friesen family. Shortly after the passing of Anne, the following picture was taken of the remaining three sisters in Jasper, Alberta, where Marge, Maria and Agnes were celebrating Dori's 60th birthday! What a family! What a legacy! I am forever grateful to be even a small part of it. We are so blessed!
