A Life Well-Lived: Phyllis Lake
Phyllis Lake was an only child born during the Great Depression. Her parents both worked, and Phyllis was often alone.
After graduating high school she married and within a year gave birth to the first of three sons. Phyllis was a stay at home mom.
The family moved from Chicago to an affluent suburb where the schools were better. Their neighbors were all wealthier financially. Phyllis never complained, but found her wealth in raising her sons.
After her husband retired, the couple moved to Florida to care for her aging parents. Phyllis accepted Christ as her Savior and became active at her church. She discovered that her spiritual gifts were intercession and faith. As a prayer warrior she often asked God to bring the other family members to Christ. God answered her prayers as each one separately came to Christ as adults.
Her husband died in 1999 and Phyllis spent her time fellowshiping with other widows. In summer 2006 the doctors discovered that cancer had spread throughout her body. On March 20, 2007 she died peacefully at home surrounded by her children.
Phyllis Lake was my Mom. In some ways she lived an unremarkable life, but her life and prayers impacted many people. Once I asked her if she was afraid to die. She smiled and said, No, Im just going to close my eyes, and when I open them Ill see Jesus. She lived a life well lived.
Dr. Steve Lake is a retired educator with over 30 years experience in the American public schools. He has served in a variety of position, including teacher, elementary school principal, junior high principal, Associate Superintendent, retired from public education as Superintendent of Schools in Lincolnwood, IL. He has his Bachelors, Masters and Doctor of Education degrees from Northern Illinois University. For the past 25 years Steve has attended and been a member of Willow Creek Community Church in South Barrington and Northfield, IL. At Willow Creek Steve has taught adult classes on spiritual gifts, life purpose, and spiritual disciplines. He has ministered overseas in Angola, Zambia, Honduras, Germany, and Russia. Steve is co-founder of Designed to Serve, a ministry that equips Christians to live out their unique God-given calling. Steve is married and has two adult children who are married.
