Cindy Rowland 1953 - 2009

Ever since I met Cindy in 1977, I have always admired her faith. She has had an unwaivering quality of seriousness and respect for the Lord God that was vibrant and personal, not dull and joyless. Her faith was at once simple and intellectually stimulating. For twenty-six years I have enjoyed having her as a sounding board and true partner to work our way through life issues from the standpoint of faith and scripture. She didn't believe that faith belonged only in the church building or the private prayer closet.

Cindy selflessly worked and invested herself in my success. She beautified our home and made it a special place. Proverbs 31 says "the heart of her husband trusts in her, so he will have no lack of gain. She does him good and not evil, all the days of her life," This is an accurate description of her dealing with me for as long as we have had a covenant commitment to each other.

Cindy loved children and was a child-magnet. She made them feel special and loved to play, tell stories and teach them. A great joy in her life was to have a son, Joseph, a great joy of her life, when she had come to believe she was going to be childless.

She was an avid reader and knew how important reading is for life. She read books and told stories to Joseph and many other children as a homeschool mom and as a participant in library reading programs, successfully instilling a love for literacy in many. She loved mysteries and classics as well as works by those whose had gone through deep waters in their walk with God - Elisabeth Eliot, Amy Carmichael and Corrie ten Boom and others. She also loved works by ones like Francis Schaeffer that challenged our thinking about how God's truth should be worked out in the reality of life and society.

Cindy had a love for disadvantaged people which she showed by her involvement in special education, both as a teacher and volunteer. She also showed this love through other acts of kindness to people in her community. She was motivated by Jesus' words in Matthew 25 that said "as you have done for the least of these... you have done for me."

Having said all that, the last thing Cindy would want is to be "in the limelight". Her name means "Reflector of Light". She viewed herself only in that way - a reflection of her Lord and Savior. No more, no less. Well done, Princess.


The Back Side of the Rainbow - Thoughts on life's struggles by Cindy

This is a compilation of thoughts from Cindy's journal which she always wanted to get presentable (so she could encourage others) as she dealt with the challenges of chemo. She never did get it into shape, but I will do it for her today, in her memory. Cindy continued her habit of journaling as her health allowed. In her last couple of months, she became unable to write cogently or legibly. It was tough for her to lose these abilities, because she was a rich thinker and had beautiful handwriting as her friends would know. As her analogy goes below, there is purpose even when we can't see it. We must learn to trust.

July 10, 2005

I had a thought yesterday. As we were sitting on our porch, a gentle rain was falling. The sun peeked through the clouds. I realized and expressed that we are on the "wrong side of the rainbow." That is, even though you know it is there [if the sun was behind us shining on the rain, we would see a rainbow, but since the sun was coming from the other direction, we couldn't see the reflection, though someone far west on the other side did]. So when I have dealt with cancer, child raising challenges, financial worries, and many "problems", it was hard to see the purpose in it. But we know, because God said so, that there is purpose in it all. His eternal purpose.

July 15, 2005

I am still thinking about being on the wrong side of the rainbow. The unseen realities of heaven's rule -- Hebrews 11:1-3 Amplified: "Now faith is the assurance (the confirmation, the title deed) of the things [we] hope for, being the proof of things [we] do not see and the conviction of their reality - faith perceiving as real fact what is not revealed to the senses. For by [faith], and trust and holy fervor born of faith, the men of old had divine testimony borne to them and obtained a good report. By faith we understand that the world were framed - fashioned, put in order and equipped for the intended purpose - by the word of God, so that what we see was not made out of things which are visible."

So again, coming back to being on the wrong side of the rainbow, you realize it is an analogy to many things. God's rule - unseen but true, His creation - which many say evolved because they depend on what they see, God's purposes - because suffering isn't without purpose, it has eternal (unseen) purpose. 2 Corinthians 4:18 Amplified: "Since we consider and look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen, for the things that are visible are temporal (brief and fleeting) but the things that are invisible are deathless and everlasting."

The rainbow is mentioned often when the throne of God is mentioned, so I know it has special significance. But right now with my little mind I am reminded of the eternal, the rule of God and His purposes.

Ezekiel 1:28 describes the glory of the Lord as a rainbow.

July 21, 2005

This morning it dawned on me that faith is more of a clear comparison "on the back side of the rainbow." We live by faith. Hebrews 11:1 - but as usual, I had already said that the last time (July 15) I wrote, but I forgot. It took several days to cement in my mind, I guess.

Cindy Taunton Rowland was born July 29, 1953 in El Dorado. She left this life June 28, 2009. Cindy was diagnosed with cancer in 2004 and she sought to bring joy, hope and encouragement to others even as she fought the disease in the following years. She was a woman of faith and a follower of Jesus Christ. She was a homemaker and member of Caledonia Baptist Church. She loved her own family and her church family very much. Cindy also had a love for disadvantaged people which she showed by her involvement in special education and through other acts of kindness to people in her community.

She was preceded in death by her father and mother, L.A. and Eva Taunton, as well as a brother, Eddie Taunton, for whom she had a special love. She leaves behind husband John Rowland, of Junction City, son Joseph Rowland, of Conway, brothers Tommy Taunton and wife Inez , of Strong, Paul Taunton and wife Geneva of Camden, sisters Alice Halfacre and husband Bill of Bull Shoals, Betty Kelly and husband Alvin of Junction City, and Ann Bearden and husband Jim of Anna, Texas, along with many nieces and nephews and a great host of friends. She will be greatly missed.

She will be remembered Friday, July 3, 10:00 a.m. at Caledonia Baptist Church, 2192 Wingfield Lake Road, El Dorado. Burial will follow at the Caledonia Cemetery. Caledonia Baptist Church is located south of El Dorado at the intersection of Wingfield Lake Road (Boy Scout Camp Road) and Caledonia Road.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be given to Caledonia Baptist Church, 2192 Wingfield Lake Road, El Dorado AR 71730 or Hospice of Caring Hearts, 463 Pea Ridge Road, Dubach LA 71235.

Links:

Funeral Home Register
Photos of Cindy
Other Cindy links since cancer

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