Early last Friday morning, our beloved sister, Cora Vlk, passed from this life after a year-long battle with pancreatic cancer. Though we would not want her to remain in the suffering brought on by her trials, we will miss her greatly. The family of saints at South Livingston was made richer in heart by her presence and her passing leaves an abiding ache within us all. Her full first name, Corazon, is the Spanish word for "heart" and Cora surely found a place into all of our hearts. She was one of those people that you grew to love more deeply the better you knew her.
In the last days of her life, Cora was under the care of the Hospice organization in Dade City. They were truly loving care-givers who provided care with tenderness, compassion and dignity for Cora and many others. The staff grew in a short time to love Cora as a kind lady who had an obvious concern for others, even as she was in her final hours. They were amazed at her will that carried her well beyond the time when death would have been expected. During a visit last week to the Hospice facility, one of the nurses expressed that admiration for Cora and told me she wished she could have known her before the illness. I told the nurse it would have been a blessing for her to know Cora. I knew it, because knowing Cora has been a great blessing to me. Over the next few minutes, we talked about Cora's background and her toughness that came, not from a lack of feeling, but from a life of hard work. We talked about the day-to-day hardships of life in the Philippines which formed the background to Cora's character and ethic. Most Americans have no idea about the labor and trials she knew as an every day reality in Bacolod City. The work ethic and persistence she learned early in life had a lasting impact on her. Cora endured hardship, not just for a few hours or days, but over many years instilling the values of hard work and sacrifice which she carried to the end. Those characteristics stayed with our dear sister to the very end and were surely a factor in her struggle against the effects of cancer beyond the point when most others would have succumbed. After hearing about Cora's background, the nurse said, "Sounds like she's a very special lady." Very special? Yes, that and much more. In an age that seeks ease, Cora was a rare and precious reminder of the value found in hard work and sacrifice -- in both the physical and spiritual realms.
Another similarity between Cora and the worthy woman of Proverbs 31 is seen in the fact that both labored to benefit others rather than self. The worthy woman worked to care for her family and for those in need (Prov. 31:14, 20). The second chapter of Ruth begins with a description of Ruth's hard work in order to care for her mother-in-law, Naomi. The Bible praises women who worked diligently to benefit their family. Cora exemplified the same characteristic. In fact, her labor outside of the home provided the sustenance for her mother and other family member in the Philippines. On several occasions after the eventual end of her disease was clear, she talked with me about her concern for her family in the Philippines that could be left in great need at her passing. When others may have been in sorrow over their own suffering, Cora's concern was for others.
Many daughters have done worthily, but thou excellest them all. Grace is deceitful, and beauty is vain; but a woman that feareth Jehovah, she shall be praised (Prov. 31:29-30).
That great value of humble service to God is also seen in the words of another Proverb: "The reward of humility and the fear of Jehovah is riches, and honor, and life" (Prov. 22:4). An humble or sacrificial spirit is a necessary companion of the diligent effort needed to fulfill the "whole duty" of every person to "fear God and keep His commandments" (Eccl. 12:13). While on earth, Jesus repeatedly extolled humble service as the path to true greatness (Matt. 20:26; 23:11; Mk. 9:35; 10:43). Paul noted that humble sacrifice was seen at its zenith in Christ (Phil. 2:5-8).
All who knew Cora recognized her diligence and humility in fearing God. Cora spoke with several about things which distressed her in view of her approaching death. She was not filled with self-pity, nor did she fear meeting the Lord. Her thoughts centered on her inability to be of continued help in meeting the spiritual needs of others. Cora's greatest concern in the days before her death was the fact that she would not be present to help Charisse and Alexis in living godly and chaste lives as commanded by God. Cora also urged me to go to her hometown and teach the gospel there so that her family and friends could hear. The Lord willing, we will fulfill our plans to meet her request this coming December.
Several years ago, Cora told me about her neighborhood in Bacolod City and the prevalence of immorality there. Many girls took the fast way to money, selling themselves in prostitution. Many sought escape from the difficulties of life in alcohol. But Cora passed them by and ignored their scoffing calls to join them in sinful behavior. Cora chose the honorable path of working for her material sustenance and living in godliness for her spiritual sustenance. Though it was neither the easy nor the popular way, she sought with godly women of old the "chaste behavior coupled with fear" and "a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price" (1 Pet. 3:1-6). Young people, are you listening? Though the path of immorality may seem the fast way to popularity and plenty, it is actually the sure way to destruction and condemnation (Rom. 2:8-9; 1 Cor. 6:9-11; Rev. 21:8). The eternally blessed and rewarded life is one of godliness and holiness associated with the person who has sights fixed on the Lord's will and His return (2 Pet. 3:11-13). While the death of the immoral person brings an unspeakable eternity in a devil's hell, the death of the saint is precious (Psa. 116:15). Why? Because of the promise announced from heaven by inspiration:
And I heard the voice from heaven saying, Write, Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from henceforth: yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labors; for their works follow with them (Rev. 14:13).
While we sorrow at Cora's passing and we will miss her greatly, we nevertheless have reason to rejoice that she now rests from her labors awaiting her heavenly hope (1 Pet. 1:3-7; Rev. 21:1-5). Yes, Cora Vlk was a very special lady and we are all better for being touched by her heart and life. Let us keep George, Charisse and Alexis in our prayers during this difficult period that they may find strength to help in time of need.