Mother’s Funeral Eulogy: Mrs. Betty Grace McGrath nee Davis (1924-2025)

Gavin's mother, Betty Grace McGrath nee Davis, a centenarian, was admitted to a Sydney hospital on Tues. 23 Sept. 2025 with an infection resulting in reduced eating and dehydration, and after being told it was hoped she would be discharged in the week of 8 Oct., having gotten a hospital pneumonia infection, the combined effect was that she fell asleep on Wed. 8 Oct. 2025. Gavin says, "The Lord's Prayer says, 'Thy will be done.' God has a Directive Will and a Permissive Will, and as Biblically taught in e.g., Acts 23:11-35, under God's Directive Will, God is in charge but under his Permissive Will he may work his purposes through the sinful acts of man he permits without condoning them. Though I was praying for my Mother's recovery, and hoping for a discharge in the very week she fell asleep, with tearful difficulty, I must accept that in his Infinite Wisdom, Almighty God who knows everything, permitted Mother to get pneumonia with a late diagnosis; that he might bring her soul home to heavenly rest." "This 1662 Anglican Book of Common Prayer Burial Service...is being conducted by the Right Reverend Robert Forsyth, who before his retirement was an Auxiliary Bishop in the Diocese of Sydney as Bishop of South Sydney from 2000 to 2015, starts here at St. Matthew's Windsor; after which...the cortege will proceed to St. James' Anglican Cemetery Pitt Town; and after the Returned and Services League ... Tribute" with the Tribute party including the Mayor of Hawkesbury, Mayor Les Sheather, "Bishop Rob will continue the prayer book service." Gavin preaches this eulogy in willing submission to the 5th commandment of the Holy Decalogue, "Honour thy ... mother" (Deut. 5:16; Eph. 6:2).