Lisa Kriner Peck was a member of our church in Indianapolis—as was her mother, Marie Kriner—when I was called to Thompson Road Baptist Church as pastor in 1979. When Lisa was in eighth grade, a friend had invited her to attend TRBC, where she heard the gospel, was saved, and was baptized by the church’s pastor at the time, Dr. Fred Moritz. Her mother, a single parent, began attending church and rededicated her life to the Lord.
After graduating from high school, Lisa attended Bob Jones University and received a two-year secretarial diploma, allowing her to teach in one of our local Christian schools for 15 years. For eight years, she served in our church as a secretary. Following her graduation from BJU, Lisa married a young man who was (and is) a member of our church, Matt Peck, with Yours Truly officiating. As a couple they have served the Lord faithfully for many years—Matt as a deacon and Lisa as a teacher, soloist, secretary, church clerk, and wherever needed as a “utility” person! The Pecks have two sons, Lakota and Landon.
By the time Lisa and her mother began attending TRBC in the 1970s, Lisa’s older brothers and twin sisters were adults, and her mother was a single parent. Marie, in order to support herself and Lisa, began a child-care service out of her home on Indy’s southside. She had brought up five children of her own. She was a loving, caring mother and a skilled child-care worker, very successful in her work until the Lord called her Home in 1988.
Now, to the heart of this post. Recently, on social media, Lisa received a note from the mother of one of the children who Mrs. Kriner had cared for in her child-care ministry 40 years ago. When Lisa replied to the inquiry, affirming that she was indeed the daughter of Marie Kriner—child-care “Mom” of decades ago—Lisa received the following letter:
“Your Mom has been on my mind lately…my nephew and his wife have a newborn and I was telling them how Mrs. Kriner did business.
She was so kind, so loving and she made my son his very own birthday cake when he turned three!
What a blessing to have known her! Rest assured that we remember the outstanding way she treated my son and all of the other children in her care!
May your mother’s memory be a cherished blessing! She was the best!
Kind regards,
C______”
But wait, there is more! In a follow-up letter—when this mother found out that Mrs. Kriner was without question the child-care giver who had so wonderfully cared for her son—she wrote again:
“Wow! I am just so delighted that you answered my email! Your mother, probably without realizing it, gave me and Alex a wonderful foundation on which to build our lives. Not only did I trust her implicitly, (I was a young single mother and that alone was scary) I knew that she was on my side.
Because of your mom, my faith in God was strengthened…she lived her faith daily by the way she treated others. She taught me that despite our trials, God is good and has our best interests at heart. I, to this day, believe that God allowed us to cross paths!
Alex, who will be 43 in March, remembers ‘Kriner’ very well! He loved being at her house…he felt safe there.
Your mother left a beautiful legacy…so in many ways, she is still here! I can still see her, in my mind’s eye, in her backyard with all of the kids….
So good to hear from you! You have a lovely family and looks like you are living your best life! God bless you, dear Lisa!”
The wisest of kings once said, “Who can find a virtuous woman? for her price is far above rubies.” (Prov. 31:10) Mrs. Kriner fit that description. For a good woman to have been remembered many years after her passing, and praised profusely by someone other than a close friend, family member, or fellow church member, merits our contemplation.
Marie Kriner never knew the impact of her influence on the lives of those she touched. Nor do we. But, for good or for ill, we impact every life we are in contact with; and the influence will never die. Let’s determine anew, with Marie Kriner’s tribute in mind, to make our words and works, no matter how largely heard or seen, count for Christ. Someone just may praise your God—decades from now—for what you meant to them in our passage through time toward eternity.
It is said that an adult lion’s roar can be heard up to five miles away. But, dear parent, your words of training and wisdom will be heard in a child’s heart, as is Mrs. Kriner’s, for decades after you have crossed over into eternity. May we perpetuate her blessed memory by following her sterling example. “Her children arise up and call her blessed.” (Prov. 31:28)
“Who can find a virtuous woman?…Strength and honor are her clothing; and she shall rejoice in time to come.” (Prov. 31:10, 25)
YOU and GOD 