10 May, 2009

In Memory Of Lindsay Dian Walters

I went to church today. My pastor from my days in Fredericksburg is now pastoring a church in Horseshoe Bay, so I thought I'd pay him a visit.

As I sat in the pew listening to the sermon (Galatians 5), I thought it would be a good idea to read over the prayer request list enclosed in the bulletin. My eyes came to an entry asking for prayer for a couple that had just lost their only daughter. I wondered who she was and what the circumstances were but it didn't give any details other than the name of the girl, Lindsay.

After the service, the pastor and pastor's wife made a bee line to me and we chatted for about 20 minutes before going into the kitchen for refreshments. I was standing at the table, looking at the yummy things laid out for us to eat, when I noticed there were newspaper clippings and notes of different sorts hanging on the wall. Then I saw it- the obituary.

As I read this, I couldn't help but ask myself, "What would be said about me if God was to take me?" Upon asking this question, I found myself mentally re-prioritizing my life. Not because I want people to say nice things about me, but because I want to live my life in a way that is reflective of what matters most to me- Jesus, my family, my friends; I want to love people the way Jesus did, and I want to tell people who don't know Him how much He's done for them. I think a lot of Christians want to live this way, but the world wears us down and pretty soon we're caught up in living for ourselves, when we were created to live for Christ.

I'm sad because today was the first Mother's day Lindsay's mom had to face without her daughter. It makes me appreciate being able to spend the day with my mom just a little bit more. I talked to my mom about. "It just doesn't seem fair. God took someone like this from the world but leaves people like ----- free to walk around and make people miserable." She told me she knew how I felt, but that it was all part if a bigger plan that one day God would unveil. I guess it's true but it's cold comfort...



Lindsay Dian Walters, 21, was taken in a tragic accident the morning of March 1, 2009 in College Station.

Her mother's best friend and her daddy's angel, Ms. Walters was a beautiful and loving young lady set to graduate in May from Texas A&M University with a BS and MS in accounting with a 4.0 GPA and full summa cum laude honors. She was a member of the Christian Business Leaders, the A&M Professional Program in Accounting, National Society of Collegiate Scholars, Golden Key International Honor Society and Phi Kappa Phi.

Her family takes comfort in the knowledge that she knew the Lord as her personal savior and asks for your prayers as they face life here without her.

Ms. Walters was born on July 14, 1987 in Houston to Charles and Lisa Walters, now of Georgetown. She was preceded in death by her grandparents Clayton and Billye Walters, formerly of Wharton, and Helen Woolston of Arkansas.

She is survived by her parents; her Uncle Gary and Aunt Brenda Walters of East Bernard; her cousins, Ryan Walters of East Bernard and Marcey Phillips of Conroe.

A Memorial service was conducted in Georgetown at First Baptist Church.

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A funeral for Lindsay Walters will begin at 11 a.m. at First Baptist Church in Georgetown. The church will open an hour early to accommodate what is expected to be an overflow crowd.

"What I want is for every Aggie who can come to Georgetown, Texas, on Friday to come," said Lindsay's mother, Lisa Walters. "I want them to come see what a wonderful Aggie they lost, and I want Lindsay to look down from heaven and see a room full of Aggies."

Lindsay Walters died early Sunday after a truck exiting the Northgate Parking Garage hit her and two others standing in line to pay parking fees.

Walters' parents remember her as driven and mature.

"You have never met a more wonderful lady in your entire life," Lisa Walters said. "That is no exaggeration. That comes not from a parent, but from a friend. Lindsay has been an angel."

Lisa Walters said she lost a daughter and best friend. Charles Walters, her father, lost his baby girl and angel.

"I miss my Lindsay," he said through tears. "My life won't be the same. I'm selfish because I want her here, but I know she was ready. She made her peace with the Lord years ago."

Friends and family spoke of Lindsay Walters' character and her faith in God.

"She talked the talk and she walked the walk here on Earth," her father said. "I know she's with her maker. I wish I had her faith."

A close friend of the family, Kristen Dark, said they were expecting at least 1,000 people to attend the services. She said she wouldn't be surprised to see more than 1,000 show up because many were touched by Lindsay Walters.

"She was such a high achiever," she said. "She was graceful and elegant. She treated people with dignity and had a maturity beyond her years."

Walters was set to graduate in May with bachelor's and master's degrees in accounting with a 4.0 GPA, her family said.

Another family friend remembered Lindsay Walters as a great friend who could pull you through tough times.

Korry Hamman, who graduated from Texas A&M in 2002 and now serves as a lieutenant in the U.S. Navy, recently returned from an overseas deployment.

"I was supposed to come home and take her to lunch at Freebirds," he said. "I was waiting for her to pass her exam first."

Hamman said he tried to call Walters on Saturday to set up the lunch but never heard back from her.

"This is a real heartbreaker for me," he said. "The world lost one of its best people, the top one of the top 1 percent."

Walters had maintained contact with Hamman during his time overseas, and he said it meant a lot to him.

"It was probably one of the most incredible things to open my inbox and see an e-mail from her," he said. "It just brought you back home. She just had that air, that personality and attitude. She could really bring you back home."

1 comments:

Anonymous said...

Sounds like an amazing woman of God. I share your sentiment and thoughts on the what we would deem tragedies but have to also remind myself that, to God, they are not tragedies. He is in control and her life's purpose was fulfilled. I hope that her life and many others can encourage us to continually ask God for His direction and guidance in every day of our lives, no matter how long or short.