Born in 1926 in Nazi Germany to a German Catholic family. Raised under Adolf Hitler’s German rule with the SS constantly watching over every conversation, often making sure that even the children didn’t make fun of the tyrannical dictator in their outside playtime. Edith knew her family was poor and needed material for clothing, so as a young girl she would sneak into the hall where the soldiers uniforms were all piled up and she put on as many layers of clothing as she could walk in, then secretly escape home, so that her mother could take the material from the uniforms and repurpose it for their family’s clothing needs.
WWII came, and Edith met an American soldier. Though each couldn’t understand the other’s language, they began corresponding back and forth by letter: one in German and the other in English, searching to always find an interpreter. After the soldier she loved had sent for her, Edith came to America, and she was considered a German war bride. She had left everything she knew, family, country, her entire identity in order to be with him. Though uneducated in Germany because they had to pay to go to Hitler’s high schools, Edith learned to be productive with her hands and began creating art. When Edith met Jesus, she was changed radically as an adult. Over the years, four kids and numerous grandchildren and great grandchildren later, in order to share love with others, Edith would create everything from art murals to crochet blankets, to needlework, to her favorite…the puppets!
Yesterday, Joey and I had the privilege to attend the Celebration of Life ceremony of Edith.
Honestly, I just could not stop weeping.
Not because I was sad to see her go, for she was eager to meet her Savior, but because of the beautiful life well lived and the footprint of her legacy all around the room. We were in the Children’s Activity Center in Bellaire, Texas, which her son had helped to begin over 20 years ago and on the walls were murals that Edith had painted. In the room were her children and descendants. In the early years of the mission, her family would share Jesus to underprivileged children in Houston with on the road puppet shows. Puppets made by hand, representing many different nationalities, made with love by Edith. At the Celebration of Life service, we were blessed beyond words by…
Wait for it….
A puppet show.
Enjoy.
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