This is the first time in my life- I write a tribute to a legend, my beloved sister Jeba, so fearfully and wonderfully created by God.
As a daughter...
She was the only darling daughter God had given to a dedicated family of Mrs. Rajammal (a school teacher) and Mr. Rajamani (a Catechist) the eldest in our family. They knew that God had given them Jebamani, His child to educate and to train on His behalf.
They modeled a life of faith in action for her, and regularly discussed biblical principles with her; monitored her outside influences; helped her choose courage over conformity; taught her how to understand her true self worth in the Lord; helped her get to know and trust the Bible and to practice the presence of God daily.
Certainly her parents could say that they had no greater joy than to hear that their daughter had walked in truth. 3 John 4.
As my sister...
I'm the eldest brother in our family. She was the eldest sister, my periyappa's (uncle's) daughter.
I loved and respected her more than my own brother and sister because of her dedication and discipline. She taught me Christian values which my own parents had failed to do.
I had three sisters Jeba, Selvi and Amutha in our family. Now all are with the Lord!
As a student...
After completing her school she did her B.Sc in Sarah Tucker College Palayamkottai where my wife too was studying. I was in St.John's College then. She could do well in every subject every year through Him who strengthened her.Philippians 4:13.
She was a great witness to the students and a glorious testimony to her teachers.
As a teacher...
I once heard a story of a man who was walking along a beach. The sun was shining and it was a beautiful day.
Off in the distance he could see a person going back and forth between the surf’s edge and the beach. Back and forth this person went.
As the man approached he could see that there were hundreds of starfish stranded on the sand as the result of the natural action of the tide. The man was stuck by the apparent futility of the task.
There were far too many starfish. Many of them were sure to perish.
As he approached, the person continued the task of picking up starfish one by one and throwing them into the surf. As he came up to the person he said, "There are thousands of miles of beach covered with starfish. You can’t possibly make a difference."
The person looked at the man. He then stooped down and picked up one more starfish and threw it back into the ocean. He then turned back to the man and said, "It made a difference to that one!"
Jeba made a difference in the lives of the students she taught. She loved teaching and loved the children that she taught. She was a good Principal in the school where she was appointed. As a gracious disciplinarian she built the school with confidence in God but without compromise with the world.
As a wife...
Jeba had a wonderful husband Raja (Mr Rajasekaran) who was extremely faithul to his nuptial vows. He treated her like a maharani.
She always placed herself under his authority as she had placed herself under the Lord's authority.Ephesians 5:22. She was a virtuous wife who was an embodiment of 1 Corinthians 13.
She followed her husband’s leadership, cared for him, respected him in all manner of her conversation and lived her life to meet his needs.
She knew that her marriage relationship on earth was a living representation of Christ’s relationship to the church, His bride.Ephesians 5:21-33.
As a mother...
God gifted her with two wonderful treasures; Deepu and Sharon and their olive shoots. As a mother she loved them, taught and trained them in the Word, nurtured and disciplined them in the fear of the Lord, and was always available to them,interacting with them.
Above all she modeled with Integrity.
Jeba would want you to know that she is not hurting now. She is not suffering any more. She has been given a new body.
Jeba is now experiencing more joy than we could ever imagine in all of our lifetimes.
In John 14:1-3 Jesus tells us: “Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me. In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also."
Jeba's departure is temporary for we shall meet her soon with Jesus. Maybe me first!
Her memory will always be with us, and her legacy will continue through her children. I will miss my dearest sister so dearly for a while!
Soon I shall meet her with the Lord.
Her Annan (cousin brother),
Rev.Dr.Paulraj Athisayamony
President, Eden International mission Mumbai, India