Elizabeth Francis, the oldest living person in the U.S., passes away at 115 after a long and fruitful life. She left behind a legacy of faith and love. She was known for having a joyful spirit, loving Jesus and the Good Book, and having a deep, boundless love for her family. Elizabeth showed her family and loved ones that aging is a blessing and not a curse. It offers us a journey rich in wisdom, too.
“She loved the Lord. Her faith was extremely strong," her 69-year-old granddaughter and caregiver, Ethel Harrison, said. Ethel also said her grandmother was always checking in on others. She would ask how everyone was doing, and she often told her family, friends, and strangers about the Golden Rule: Treat people like you want to be treated.”
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Born in 1909 in Houston, Texas, Elizabeth witnessed a century of immense change in family dynamics, politics, and even technology. Despite all the changes she’s seen in the world, she remained a simple woman who valued faith, kindness, and family.
She celebrated her 114th birthday with her family surrounding her, and she told everyone, “I’m very, very young. Look at me; I’m like a little young chicken.”
Her words capture the hope and reminder that with faith, everyday life can pass by instantly. I suppose if you viewed life through her eyes, she knew that life was so much more than the years we count on earth. When we consider eternity and the promises of Jesus, every earthly lifetime feels like the opening notes of a long and glorious song. For those who place their hope in Him, life here is only a preview of what we get to have in eternity, where age falls away.
Elizabeth’s family was blessed to have her walk the earth for the last 115 years. She left behind a family that included great-great-great grandchildren. Each and every one of her family members will carry her legacy of love, faith, and joy. Now that is something worth striving for, don’t you think?
As we age and move forward with our lives, let Elizabeth be an example of what to live for—a life devoted to glorifying Christ in all that we say and do.
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Psalm 91:16 "With long life I will satisfy him and show him my salvation."
h/t: GMA
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