The Bible tells us in Psalm 90:10 that “Our days may come to seventy years; or eighty, if our strength endures…” On Sabbath, May 9, 2015 the Williamsburg, VA church celebrated the 100th birthday of one of our members, Violet Sweeney. A few years ago Sister Vi shared her heartfelt wish to live to see her 100th birthday. As May 12 came closer, the church organized a luncheon billed as Vi’s Birthday Blowout. Over 100 hundred folks attended the honored luncheon. Family from around the US and Jamaica, as well as close neighbors shared the joy of this day along with her church family.
Her secret? In a prepared statement Sister Vi shared her heartfelt feelings.
“Thank you all. It is such an honor, privilege, and blessing to have you take this time from your lives to acknowledge mine. I thank God for your love that is expressed by your presence here today to recognize my 100th birthday. It is a blessing for God to keep me here to this day. In just three days I will be 100 years young! I don’t take this blessing for granted. God has been exceedingly good to me. I had nothing to do with being on earth for a century with a sound mind and body. But not one day has gone by without me giving my heavenly Father praise and honor. I have no profound statement to make; I will only say that I have lived my life serving God. I have cared for and raised many children as if they were my own. I have treated others with respect and dignity. I have no regrets. To God be the glory for all things He has done for me. The voices of a million angels cannot express my gratitude. I hold it all to Thee. I closing I would like to thank Joe and Annie and my church family for making this my special day. Blessings to all.”
Violet Sweeney is an elegant, beautiful, and Christian example that we love and cherish. As our toast went, “We pray God blesses you with many more years!”
