A warrior has fought her last fight, laid down her armor and took her final rest. I say warrior because in every sense Mrs. Cook, as I always called her, was a fighter. Strong, stubborn, dedicated, independent, opinionated—she went against the current of the world; she was born to originate and do something great. It didn’t matter who stood with her or against her, she went forward, fighting for what she believed in. She really was an amazing woman—flawed and human, but amazing nonetheless.
I first heard of Mrs. Cook when my mom came across the SonLight curriculum and purchased it for my homeschool. When I finally chose to become a Christian, the SonLight books were monumental in my development. School wasn’t about just getting a bunch of academic knowledge stuffed in my head; it was about getting to know God through all I was studying. I didn’t just have a Bible class, I had the Bible in every class. Mrs. Cook was the founder of SonLight and the creator of the school program. She had immersed herself in the study of education and taken on the seemingly impossible task of writing a whole curriculum for children from birth on up that used the Bible as the main textbook. She had incredible drive and vision. It didn’t matter the obstacles or how long it would take, she steadily moved forward. My family got the SonLight program before I was 10 and Mom had contact with Mrs. Cook off and on for several years. At the age of 16 Mom and I traveled across the country to attend a health session in Virginia and who just happened to be at the same location giving a homeschool seminar but Mrs. Cook. One year later we ended up in Washington state and began an unforgettable journey living and working at SonLight. The ministry was small. It consisted of Mrs. Cook, Mom, me, and Mr. Cook (when he wasn’t in town working his main job). I was just 17, so I wasn’t quite considered a “staff member” yet. But if Mrs. Cook believed you should do something she wasted no time in pushing you forward and stretching you in that area. I quickly found myself proofreading, imputing school lessons into the computer (as some of the original files had gotten lost), reformatting books, recording CDs, designing covers, and even writing school lessons. It didn’t matter that I had limited experience, opportunities develop potential. I am forever indebted to her for all the opportunities she gave me. Mrs. Cook was all about developing your character. If she felt like you had a weak point in an area, that’s what she focused on. Sometimes she was right and it was appreciated, and sometimes not. But she meant well. Being a shy and quiet 17-year-old, the last thing I wanted to do was answer the phone calls coming into the Print Shop. So guess what? Every day, I was assigned to answer the phone for one hour. Mrs. Cook took me with her on several education seminars. And once again, although young, she put me in charge of the music and teaching several classes. She strongly believed in getting all ages to participate in church and class. There was always a new creative way to approach old and familiar subjects that kept both small children and 80+ year-old adults interested and learning. It was at SonLight that the idea of a family Sabbath school was introduced to me and I immediately felt right at home. Twenty or so, 4-drawer filing cabinets lined the basement wall in Mrs. Cook’s home. They were filled with articles, activities, poems, stories, and studies, all categorized in alphabetical order. When Mrs. Cook was writing about the hydrologic cycle, she would go to her files and see what she could find to contribute to the school lesson. Her library was extensive and exceptionally organized. Studying and writing was her happy place, her retreat and solace. And she gave to families and the world resources whose estimate cannot be numbered. I owe a lot to Mrs. Cook. My years at SonLight were pivotal in my experience. I was challenged, would I look to man and turn from everything or look to God and know in whom I have believed? I grew to be more understanding and compassionate towards leadership. I developed a strong love for this grand work, especially that of helping families in the education of their little ones. I went to SonLight a child and left a woman. Those years were not easy, but life-changing. SonLight will forever be a great part of who I am. Mrs. Cook was really an amazing woman, a warrior for God. She was far from perfect, but she was fighting the good fight of faith. I’m forever grateful for what she gave to me and countless families across the world. May that influence never cease. “Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth…that they may rest from their labours; and their works do follow them.” (Revelation 14:13)
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SolominaEverything in life has meaning. There's a lesson in every object, every situation, every process. I want to go deeper, in a higher way. I want to listen, to understand, to know. Archives
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