Walk Along-side Me

A favorite Psalm of Bertha Christoffels was Psalm 23. She loved listening to it and would recite it often. It was read at her funeral and as I reflected on the Psalm, I could not keep myself from thinking about how often in her lifetime she walked- along side others. That is where she felt comfortable. The Lord was her shepherd. He was her comfort as they walked thru life together.

Artesia Christian Home has a tag line which says. "Let us walk alongside you." This reflects clearly what staff have done for our mom since September 6, 2008. On that day she became an Artesia Christian Home Cottage resident. As a family we have a sense of peace and joy that she finished her last years with grace and dignity and a feeling of being loved. There was a team of people made up of staff, church members, and friends who loved, supported, and cared for her. She was able to experience what she had done so faithfully for others. She passed away just a few days shy of her 97th birthday. As family, we felt like she just could not wait for heaven and took a big jump into her Savior’s waiting arms. She was our mom, friend, role model, and hero. She lived a life of joy. Not because she always felt so blessed or joyful, but because she made a choice to be happy in whatever circumstances came her way. She knew who to trust and let Him hold her hand.

At an early age, while growing up on a farm near Steen Minnesota, she learned how to walk along-side others. Her father Aart Spronk, who emigrated from the Netherlands, when he was 15 years old, was diagnosed with MS when she was merely 10 years old. Much was required of her and her siblings. High-school for her was not an option no matter how much she wanted to. Grandpa walked with a cane and he needed help to maintain the farm. Mom would go to the field and help with the planting of crops. She would pick corn by hand and helped with the daily chores. She, with her mother, sisters, and brother, "walked along-side" grandpa. Grandpa was a farm renter, not a land owner, farm life was for those with physical strength. Her parents were still speaking Dutch in the home and the children spoke it freely as well. The elementary school was a one room school house. She remembered kids asking her to talk "Dutch" in front of class. As she was an introvert, this made her more determined to speak English. She was not ashamed of being "Dutch” but she soon realized she was different and wanted to be like everyone else. She was determined to be a proud American. The family spent many hours together laughing and working. It took much of the day just to complete basic living tasks. As she walked alongside helping grandpa, she learned an important thing. She was worthy, she was confident, and she was happy! She developed a servant heart and a deep love for the Lord. I think as she walked along-side her father, she felt her heavenly father beside her as well. She loved music, loved listening to it, singing it and playing piano. Getting things done quickly became a goal. To the last day, she loved nothing more than to be first with anything. She loved winning at games and being on time. We (as a family) often joke about the spunkiness of the Spronk's.

She fell in love with a handsome boy, Louis Christoffels. He joined the Army during WWII. He was part of the Normandy Invasion on Omaha Beach June 6, 1944. We as a family saw the lasting effect on my dad. I did not really consider until much later what that must have been like for my mom. She was living on a farm with her parents, and her small baby boy who was growing up without his father. They only communicated with letters that came unpredictably. She once told me of a time when she had not heard from him for eight weeks, then suddenly she got a whole bundle of letters. That could not have been easy. She only heard about the war over the radio and papers. She was thankful for the news but also lived with the fear of bad news. My brother Lee was 1- 1/2 years old before he first heard his father's voice on the phone. Months later when dad finally did make it home, mom and dad started to farm with grandpa and grandma. Grateful to be alive and safe, life went on. We were never allowed to have guns or have fire-crackers and we understood why. We developed a deep appreciation and love of country and the freedoms we could enjoy because of the sacrifice they both gave.

Mom was born December 16,1921. She had 6 children, three girls and three boys. She had 21 grandchildren, and 55 great-grandchildren with more on the way. We were raised firmly but with love and kindness. We were taught to love God above all else. My parents became loyal supporters of Christian Schools and made sure each one of us had the opportunity to attend. It took a lot of sacrifice on their part; they were willing to do it because they loved us and wanted something for their family neither one of them could have as they were growing up.

Mom lived out her servant heart as she raised her children. She walked along-side us through all the tough times and good times. She was a seamstress, she made her clothes and ours, eventually owning a material shop in her basement. She enjoyed crocheting, knitting, and hardanger. Her vision, at the end, no longer allowed her to continue these skills that brought her much joy. Her best pieces are now enjoying a new home with her family. She made all our meals (including homemade bread). She cared for her parents. I remember grandpa's last days. Mom going to help care for him. I remember grandma living with us because she suffered from Arthritis. They both passed young, but mom was there beside them, still raising her own family. She served in Ladies Circle, she cooked meals for hired men, she got up early, washed the clothes (without an automatic washer) and hung it on the line before we left the house to get on the bus at 7:00 am. The next day she ironed all the clothes, baked pies, cookies, and bars. She kept a clean house. She was the first one up in the morning. As we came tumbling down the stairs, she would serve us a cup of hot coffee. She became a C.N.A. in her late 50's and loved it. When she and dad moved to California, she cleaned houses and drove people to their Dr. appointments. She loved nothing more than to play hostess. She would jump up, put the coffee on, and be ready to share her specialties with whomever dad would bring. She loved loving my dad! No matter how tired, she would spoil him with ice cream before bedtime, she cared for him after his stroke and at 80 years old he passed. She did not set out to impress anyone, she just loved others and took life as it came, giving her best with a desire to just be. She was strong and she was beautiful.

We are thankful for her example to walk along side. We are thankful that she could be the recipient of someone "walking along-side" her daily. Life was no longer quick and easy, her hearing and seeing along with her walking became a struggle, it was difficult- as the desire to do things "herself" never left. The "Letting others walk along-side you" concept; not easy to accept. She still tried to keep up; she walked with the others when she could, she went to exercise, she loved looking at news of the family and friends on her iPad. She loved Tuesday night prayer group at ACH, and the game of BINGO. She was fiercely determined to be strong and do it herself. She felt greatly blessed.

Thank you staff for loving and caring for mom thru her last years. You did a wonderful job of walking along-side mom as she finished her journey. We are thankful that many years ago Artesia Christian Home was started. As you continue to "walk alongside" others, do it knowing that you are making a difference. You are appreciated and we as families are blessed because of how you take time to know, love, and care for our moms and dads. We recognize it is not always an easy task, but you are gifted and have a passion for what you do. Thanks for being a blessing and providing compassionate loving care. As one of my friends would often say, “keep up the good work!”

With a grateful heart,

Twyla Vander Ley.