Friends,  Here is Common Christianity #831 (10-18-22), “She’s No Angel.” Our dear friend Joyce Samples passed away last Saturday.  Her journey is complete, she is now among the angels … but God gives us so much more.  See the column below.  Blessings and Joy, Bob

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Spirituality Column #831

October 18, 2022

Common Christianity / Uncommon Commentary

She’s No Angel

By Bob Walters

“Now if we are children, then we are heirs – heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ.” – Romans 8:17

“Our Joyce just went to heaven.”

The succinct text from dear friend and pastor John Samples arrived at 2:33 this past Saturday afternoon, October 15, 2022,

Through tears I say RIP and be with Jesus, Joyce Estes Samples.  Many are the voices of heaven welcoming another saint. 

And to Joyce, I hope no one thinks you’re an angel, because you are so much more.

Angels are servants of God, and humans who believe in and love Jesus Christ are heirs of God.  In Jesus we are divinely adopted into the Kingdom of God, where we live eternally as sons and daughters – heirs – of God Almighty in glory through the grace of Jesus Christ.

There … just wanted to get that said.  Joyce, created in the image of God, has fully joined the family of God and heaven is better off for it.  Her humanity is now perfected.

I loved Joyce Samples.  Everybody did.  She was mom to many of us, not just to her loving and protective sons John W. Samples, with whom she and John lived, and Dain Samples, who died too soon.  Joyce will always be a beautiful, loving, encouraging, and no-holds-barred lover of Jesus Christ and sister in the faith.  She is a friend in the Kingdom of God.

Our corporate, faith-family prayers deeply embrace her husband, John.  His strong, wise presence – in my opinion and others’ – as Senior Pastor Emeritus carried our East 91^st Street Christian Church through a difficult season of pastor-transition 12 years ago.  He’s the best.

Why do I think so much of the Samples?  Well, John married Pam and me, June 22, 2009 (after we asked him on June 21, 2009 – click CommonChristianity - 764 to see the column; it’s a great story).  In 2008 John and Joyce trusted me to drive their grandson Ehren to Civil Air Patrol camp up in Michigan.  Three years before that, John arranged the 2005 baptism of my son Eric by Russ Blowers (also a great friend and pastor) in an E91 Sunday service. 

Also in 2008, John and Joyce asked me to publicly share a family story (my actual working life was in journalism/public relations).  Of nine Estes siblings including Joyce, seven of them, all alive, were married for 50 or more years; one brother died after 48 years of a marriage delayed two years by his service in World War II (note: that would have been 50), and the ninth Estes sibling, a baby sister, died before age 2.  Read all about it at CommonChristianity - 275.

The Estes Golden Anniversary story went national on Associated Press and Jay Leno offered to fly them all to LA to appear on the Tonight Show.  The Estes clan declined because some family members refused to fly – anywhere – including L.A.  They just never had … flown.

John and Joyce’s 72^nd wedding anniversary would be this Oct. 28. Their 70^th anniversary during October Covid in 2020 was celebrated with hotdogs at Costco, their charming tradition.  The Castleton Costco manager set up the employee quarantine lunch area for them.  Awesome.

Yes … scripture says there are no marriages in heaven (Matthew 22:30, like the angels, who also are not married).  But Joyce was a presence who made folks on this side of the river sure there was a heavenly home awaiting.  Faith, love, joy and kindness were what Joyce sowed in the Kingdom every day.  I don’t know how it all works but I hope she’s rejoicing with Dain.  The rest of us will be along at some point. 

For now, with a big amen to a beautiful child of God, Joyce is home, safe, and loved. But she’s no angel.  She’s an heir in God’s image, and a beacon of light and love to the faithful.

Look at Joyce, and remember.  And celebrate.  And know … that’s how you do it.

Walters (rlwcom@aol.com) notes he’ll especially miss Joyce’s daily “Ponders” (CommonChristianity - 535). She was 89.  Her funeral is Sunday, Oct. 23, 1 p.m., in The Hall at E91.  Visitation at noon.