Tribute To A True Blessing

A Tribute To A True Blessing 
Bernice ‘no middle name needed’ Sherman     
My Momma
July 16, 1937 – July 13, 2020

*Music Soundtrack: “Whenever God Shines His Light”- Van Morrison Original

     It is so ‘nice’ to see your friendly faces here and via Facebook live and Zoom to honor, celebrate, and pay tribute to the beautiful woman known as Honey, Mom, Grammy, Be, Nice’, and Lady Ber.  From my family’s heart to yours, thank you all for your love, friendship, generosity, and support! May I ask that we all take a moment to silently thank the Good Lord for the great blessing she was to us all! …[AMEN]

Regarding Mom:

     I’d like to begin by thanking her for being the person she chose to be!!  First, by bringing me into this world.  I knew I was blessed because when the nurses handed me to her upon my first breath; I greeted her with a belly full of love, and she still loved me all these years.  It was my day-one lesson regarding the importance of asking for forgiveness.

     Setting aside the many beautiful homes she designed, and the “Little Switzerland” Saint Ives marvel she created at the end of the 20th Century, as well so many of her material world accolades – I’d like to focus on a few of the unseen things she did and represented. 

​     Surely, those exquisite material world accomplishments sparked interest in all levels in our culture.  The Kaanapali Condo had king and queen hand carved everywhere one looked.  To this day, it is one of the most beautiful homes I’ve ever been in.  Most who saw her works recognized it takes God given type skill.  She had an innate ability to see the finish in her mind’s eye before the job even began. Also, her “Straight-A” track record through-out her education is so darn impressive. 

     However, in all her brilliance and her creations in the material world, I’m of sound reason that these qualities paled by the power to the thousands compared to the person she chose to “Be.” 

     Many of you know I enjoy telling a story, so bear with me; with hope you all will find this extremely fascinating…

    Her lead, although somewhat foreign to a playful, happy-go-lucky, sort of renegade child, or simply, a guy who marvels at many things, could not have been more divine.  I so appreciated her culinary expertise, her willingness to care for us children when we were under the weather, be a personal Uber driver to years of summer camp, practices, and games.  My best fan in the stands! Have a band-aid in hand for the many hard knocks I brought home.  She was a calming but inspirational voice to try my best on the next exam, or to strap the helmet on, or to lace up the Converse All-Stars for athletic battles.  In context, the countless game-day talks at the kitchen table, or her driving…me listening.  She would often suggest:

     “There is nothing in this world you cannot accomplish so long as you give it your best shot – as with God – with all your heart, all your soul, and with all your mind.  Believe in God and he will bless you.  Then – anything is possible.” 

     These prophetic words will continue to tug at the heartstrings of Brad, Bonnie, and my journey’s!!    

     I’d like to thank her for loving Bryce and Jake!  Her love can be seen in them today – they love family and they love life. 
     
     This…this is priceless!!

     “Love your neighbor as you would love yourself.” 

      Love our neighbor…God bless the Cohen Family, our Northridge home next-door neighbor, and the Dorfman Family, the Mann’s, and the Hymann’s.  They made it so easy for me. 
     
     Thank you all! I love you!

      I love that all you wonderful “neighbors” attending this tribute illustrate her love for you!  I loved that she made birthdays and holidays so special for family and friends.  She welcomed many into her home and into our family in such a cool way.  She was a friend to all who sought her advice. She treated everyone with respect, dignity, and with her forever giving and loving nature…

     She was the glue.  She brought us all together in her lead to emphasize family – a value our creator placed high on his list.  Foremost, that we understood that “Truth Is Absolute.”  That our creator knows everything.  Hence,

     “Be True to Thyself.” 

     She often had conversations with my siblings and I about how to treat family and friends.  How to interact with respect, and how important it is that family stick together.  A unique and impenetrable bond – a sacred trust.  In context, principles that would not be compromised in our pluralized, privatized, politicized and now polarized worldly culture. 
I can recall those countless dinners when I was the subject of “pushing the envelope,” sort-to-speak – unsuccessfully arguing; “I’m human…we’re all human, we make mistakes.”  I’d learn, I’d ask for forgiveness.  I’d ask for wisdom.  I’d thank.  I’d try to move to “higher ground.” I’d do it almost every day.  A fellowship of sorts. It was, and still is in those quiet moments before I’d fall asleep at night when I’d realize Mom was right, in that it is very difficult to argue against –

     “The Way, The Truth, and The Life.”

     Mom was the glue and motivation for me to never lose sight!

     As many of you know, she struggled greatly these past few years, especially with memory, and had had her share of visits to the professionals to help in the resolve.  Upon one visit to one of these facilities, she embraced her recovery by returning to her spiritual nature.  I was not surprised, rather pleasantly warmed when she delighted in her visit to their prayer and church services.  It left the door open for me to reconnect with her in this light. 

      “And we dance to a whispered voice, overheard by the soul, undertook by the heart, we both knew it, we both knew it…”

      As we grew older, and most recently with the onset of her battle with dementia, little did we both know I’d be doing the whispering, “God loves you Mom, God loves you. One day you are going to heaven,  God’s paradise” – Sincerely returning the spiritual love and guidance that she provided to me many years ago.

       I’d like to thank her for helping me to understand the whispered voice, and an insight into the spiritual world she always honored with all her heart, all her soul, and all her mind! 

​      When I asked her the question at that ripe ol’ age of 9 years old — “Why would God call our brother to the ‘Pearly Gates’ at such a young age?”  Her reply was short and brilliantly prophetic.

     “God works in mysterious ways.” 

     It took a few years to unwind the logic; however, what a blessing it was that she planted the seed to understanding.  I took those words of advice to heart, praying often that I might understand them, then caring enough to take a magnifying glass to look closer.  Many years later while researching for some thoughts I wanted to share in a book I was working on, I again saw how the Lord works in “mysterious ways.”

     In that research, I experienced wonderment regarding symbols and numbers that I so wanted to share with her!  We are told in scripture to look at symbols, numbers, and the stars for meaning and the signs of the seasons. 

     I offered that I was born on the 7th day of January, in the year 1960.  In numerology, 1960 would be another 7 – adding the numbers together until only a single whole number exists.  Incidentally, January and our last name Sherman contain 7 letters of the alphabet.  I could go on and on how many times 7 is represented in scripture.  Mind boggling to be sure – over 54 times in the book of Revelation alone, and 735 times combined. 

     In context; when I realized recently that she too had the seven numerology, in that she was born in the 7th month of the calendar year, and on the 16th day of that month, with the 16 represented by a 7, and her first and last name comprises 7 letters respectfully – it explained a link I so often contemplated.  The Lord touched me with divine wonderment. It is my interpretation that we are divinely linked because scripture suggests,

     “The number 7 is the foundation of our creator’s word.” 

     He works mysteriously through the energy of this number…

     Even though my disappointment in the fact I could no longer explain my findings to her was real, the joy I had in this moment of wonderment was sensational!  My eyes started running like a sprinkler system only the Good Lord has the code to.  I flipped down my laptop and the light over it, opened the blind, then looked directly up at the star Polaris.  I just gazed up to the Messiah, who sits to our Father’s right-hand side on the throne – weeping.  Thanking Him with all my heart, all my soul, and all my mind. 

     I imagined Enoch close by, his son Methuselah and grandson Noah a little further away, with Abraham, Moses, Elijah, and King David listening in.  The Messiah was giving me that sense of wonderment that we all crave in life; it was a sense of ABSOLUTE TRUTH.  BTW, I wanted to tell her that all these human icons contain some of the 7 numerology.  I know, I sat in awe!!  I felt so honored and blessed that we are connected and that I get the blessing of knowing I will be her teammate throughout eternity. 

     While staring into the clear night sky, a soft, kind, yet firm voice that could only be heard by the heart’s ears, whispered…   

     “You need to share your research, your relationship with me, and your experiences Bryan David; you need to share. The season is nigh!”

      I just knew that voice –it was a consciousness shared by the Messiah and my Mom.  They both want me to share.  As the years accumulated and her disease began to take hold, she could no longer manage her own thoughts as they relate.  Not coincidentally, her message came through her heart.  In all regard, I’m secure in the belief that she and I are linked in one of those “mysterious ways.”

     What a blessing we share!! 

     Candidly, here is my take-a-way; The Messiah knew her role in this “Greatest Show on Earth” drama we are playing out.  Her story was written long ago.  The Lord our God designed her for her role.  The Messiah was messaging me through her to translate her role.  When the logic clicked, our divine connection made perfect sense.  It is not a “something from nothing” hypothesis, like the big bang theory.  No, I’m of the belief we are not linked by “random chance” that occurred billions upon billions of years ago in Darwinian and Hawking doctrine of evolution.  Although I love science and appreciate these representatives of modern science for their contributions, clearly The Sacred Yitzack and Chapter 1 of Genesis spells it out.  Ancient Hebrew forefathers and Moses did us all the honor!

     My certainty that she is divinely linked to our Messiah stems from another revelation.  This one came by doing a little research in the New Testament.
​ 
     There’s a story told from historical record that the Messiah was asked by his followers what he felt were the most important of the 613 commandments that Moses was enlightened with, outlined for the world’s people.  Some said, all of them. King David said 15.  The stones were obviously engraved with 10.  The Jewish profits Isiah and Micah said 6 and 3 respectfully.  The Messiah narrowed it to TWO.  Those two were the two she taught us as children–  
 
     To “Love thy Lord thy God with all thy heart, with all thy soul, and with all thy mind,”
     and to “Love they neighbor as thy self.”

    It is so amazing to me that when I look back, she was linked to the Messiah in an intuitive manner.  She followed her heart and intuitively was serving the Lord’s purpose for her.  She may not have even recognized it herself…yet she lit candles to enter many many Sabbaths, prepared Seder and High Holiday dinners, and most notably, she offered her worldview in her words and actions.  She walked the walk.  The Good Lord blessed her amazing journey because she believed in Him. 

     To illustrate; she volunteered her beautiful voice to the choir of gifted artist during the High Holidays. For years she sang on behalf of “believers” of this world for repentance, and to praise and show grace!  I can imagine now how our creator was so honored!  Why, because he put her here to share her principles, her beliefs, and to

     “Be a brightly lit candle in a time of increasing darkness.” 

     Incredible – She was a saint to our world from the spiritual world!

     Considering the great depths I have explored to understanding scripture, theology, science, and “mysterious ways,” I am absolutely convinced her walk with our creator now is nothing short of enlightenment, wonderment, unequaled love, and peace.  The Lord has already rewired her conscious and redesigned her body.  Her reunion with many, including that precious little guy who joined us for “7” years, surely has her cup of fulfillment overflowing.  And, to know she is walking with our Messiah and those many true believers and loved ones for 1000 years and then into eternity leaves me excited and with a divine sense of love and joy…FOR HER!

      I’ll semi-conclude with these words from one of her favorite artists that so often bellowed from our Northridge home.  I can still hear her beautiful voice singing these lyrics in my minds ear.  Oh no, not a chance, I am not going to sing them.  I sing like my Dad. ;)   I’ll recite them and then shortly let the gifted do that…

     “Lost on a painted sky, where the clouds are hung for the poets’ eye, you may find Him, if you may find Him…

     There on a distant shore, by the wings of dreams through an open door, you may know Him…If you may…
   
      “Be” -

     As a page that aches for a word which speaks on a theme, that is timeless… and the one God will make for your day…

     Sing - As a song in search of a voice that is silent…and the Son God will make for your way…

     And we dance to a whispered voice, overheard by the soul, undertook by the heart, you may know it…if you may know it…

     While the sand would become the stone, which begat the spark that turned to living bone,

     HOLY HOLY, SANCTUS SANCTUS…

     Be …”

       Is it a coincidence that the symbology in her name, her words, and her actions were the true blessings to us all?  Think about it: Bernice – “Be Righteous and Nice.”  This was the Messiah’s message, yes?  This was the Messiah mysteriously working through her.  Let me give you a hint more insight:

      While going through the final stages of a drug rehab program because of medically prescribed opiates, she was as clear minded as she had been in a long, long time.  She had just come from church services.  She was in good spirits and happy in my impression.  She was humming while walking to the dining area.  I asked; “How was the service, Mom?”  Her reply put a smile on my face.  “Their services are so uplifting Bry.  The music was unlike anything I’ve heard.  It was so beautiful.  I really like this guy they call Jesus.  I felt so warm while they were singing and telling stories about Him.  I really didn’t know who he was.  Bry, do you know about Him?”  “Yes, I do Mom!”  “How come you never told me about Him?”  “I did Mom, I tried to tell you, He is our Messiah.  I think the disease you were fighting and the meds you were on made it difficult for you to remember.” 

       Is it a coincidence that a lady who had never been to a church service specifically to pray, who sang to God for years on a Judaeo pulpit, established roots in reform Judaism doctrine, care to have me tell her about the Messiah was touched in a mysterious way? I sure was!

      Is it a coincidence Messiah, which means savior in Hebrew, has “7” letters in its spelling?  Is it a coincidence the number “7” is viewed in the Torah as “the foundation of God’s word?”  Is it a coincidence her son and our brother blessed us for “7” years?  Is it a coincidence that of the sixty rooms available to sixty live-in patients that she would reside in for the better part of her ten month stay prior to her being called to heaven, just so happened to be room number “7”?  Is it coincidental that she would marry a man whose name has two “7’s” associated in symbology, and her marriage lasted a lifetime?  Is it a coincidence she wore a size 7 shoe, or that Grandma & Grandpa named her Bernice consciously knowing the symbology in her name?  Is it a coincidence she spread the word of the Messiah’s two most important Commandments?  Is it a coincidence that her journey was a message for us all on how to “Be” – “as a page that aches for a word which speaks on a theme that is timeless,”  and “sing” – “as a song in search of a voice that is silent,” and where that will lead – “the S ‘O’ N God will make for our way?”  Is it coincidental that I am an offspring of hers that aligns with the energy associated with the number “7?”  My tears are witness to the honor!  Is it coincidental that her friends and family often referred to her as “Be or Nice`ie”.  Or with the moniker that often comes with supreme stardom – like, Lady Ber? 

       Who would have known? ;)

       Genuinely I tell you, she was the greatest unassuming superstar that my path had ever crossed.  She made us all feel like stars – yet it would be her, the ‘n i c e’ part of her name, that in combination proved to me who is the brightest star of them all.  She was a messenger, a modern-day American born Messianic Jew sent from God.  She followed a teaching she had no idea was required of our era.  She followed her heart.  Because the Lord speaks to us through frequency, with our largest electromagnetic conductor being the human heart, she exquisitely exemplified His message in her name, numerology, words, and actions! 

        In sum, Be Righteous and Nice = Finishes First!!

        I’m so honored to tell her amazing story!  She stamped her ticket to walk with God because she walked the walk-through mysterious ways.  Her name and numerology solidify it all! 

        Finally, I’d like to praise and give thanks to our creator.  Through his mysterious ways we all had our paths cross, get to know, and be loved by not just an ordinary Star – but a Superstar in the spiritual world.  How blessed we were, and how blessed you are Dad!  After putting this together, I can see why you always felt like the luckiest guy in the world when you were with Mom.  I think we all did yet may not have recognized it in its entirety!  I get to speak to her like old friends – through her heart and conscience; a word really didn’t need to be spoken, and still doesn’t.  Kind of weird I know, but in the coolest of ways.  Perhaps the best way I can relate is how the Messiah put it,

       “Rivers of Living Water Flow from Within.” 

       My translation – Eternal Life.  It just keeps fascinating!  So thankful she led and taught us how to “Be”!

       I’m convinced she will thoroughly enjoy her eternal life. I’ll be thinking of her as I look to the heavens from Slice O Heaven.  I’ll cherish her love and enjoy the thoughts of her walking with the Messiah and the true believers in mankind’s history.  What a sense of relief, love, awe, wonderment, and marvel she must feel right now!  It must be like going home.  What a place many are longing to see – and “Be” – someday! 

       May she have prevailing winds and following seas, and may she always be in the Good Lord’s Wheelhouse – Where we may find her! 

       Our love and life are eternal because the Messiah’s love and life is eternal.  To quote our Messiah: “When the fig tree is in full bloom, the season is nigh.”  From the Messiah and my mother to you and I:
 
       ““The prophecies are batting 1000%.  The fig tree is almost full.  Change in season is very near.  The Messiah is The Way, The Truth, and the Life.  All His ways are roads that lead to love and peace.  He is the doorway that allows us to enter heaven and eternal life.  It is the only way.””

       Thank you both for sharing your love and wisdom! I will always love You/you with all my heart, all my soul, and all my mind!

       A Tribute to a True Blessing:  My Momma  [AMEN & AMEN]

       PS, PS:  Should you be listening in Mom, if you’d like through your mysterious ways, feel free to tap into my website.  There, I’ve offered a link to a video soundtrack I created in your honor.  It will forever allow me to remember you in song, spirit, and of course – stay the course.  The link is at “SLICEOHEAVEN7.COM.”  I think you will dig it Mom…;)
 
       *Will all of you here and those attending via electronics please stand and join me in prayer (Psalm 23-KJV).  Psalm 23 is one of many psalms written by King David.   It is a prayer about life, how to view it through trusting in the Lord…
 
     “You are our Shepherd; we shall not want.  You maketh us to lay down in green pastures: You leadeth us beside the still waters.  You restoreth our soul: You leadeth us in the paths of righteousness for Your name’s sake.  Yea, though we walk through the valley of the shadow of death, we will fear no evil: For thou art with us; thy rod and thy staff they comfort us.  Thou preparest a table before us in the presence of our enemies: Thou anointest our heads with oil; our cup runneth over.  Surely goodness and mercy shall follow us all the days of our life:  and we will dwell in the house of the Lord FOR EVER.” [Amen]

       While we are all standing: 

       Since my Mom did this for me on many occasions, I’d like to return the honor.  Will you all help me in giving her my first and everlasting standing ovation for the superstar she mysteriously and righteously was chosen and chose to – “Be”!!

*Music Soundtrack:  “BE” by Neil Diamond
 
BERNICE SHERMAN- Be Righteous & Nice – God Loves You ;)