Month: October 2016

Colossians 2:6-7  “As therefore you received Christ the Lord, so live in Him, rooted and built up in Him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in Thanksgiving.”

Randy and I were blessed to be able to see Colorado during its peak leaf season this year.  I thought color in Georgia was beautiful, but I had no idea what I have been missing!!

A friend had told me to be sure and enjoy the Aspens!  What a beautiful tree!!  I loved them so much, that I did some research on them.  Aspens usually grow from 40-60 feet tall, and because of its root system, a new tree can spring up as far as 40 feet from the parent tree.  The trees themselves have a relatively short life, but the root system is long lived. One group of the Aspen’s root system in Utah is estimated to be 80,000 years old.

My Mama’s death has presented us with “roots”of our own that we have sometimes taken for granted.  We have deep “roots” in a small town which has raised us, cared for us, and loved us over the years, but we haven’t always remembered to say “thank you.” We have deep church “roots” there and many folks who taught us in Sunday School, UMYF, and youth choir, but we rarely see them.  We have deep family “roots” with those with whom we shared our childhood, but we have often been too consumed with our own lives to take time to reminisce and reflect about all the fun we had growing up.  We have “roots” in long time friends who were the first ones to show up and wrap us in a hug, but we don’t always keep in touch as we should.  Still, through the years, the “root system” keeps us connected, and we can take up right where we left off the last time.  What a blessing!

Only in my small town would people drop by Mama’s house, drop off the keys to their house, and tell you to “make yourself at home” while they are out of town.  At my home church, the ladies feed your entire family on the day of a funeral.  These roots are deep and so special.  I am forever grateful that I have these people in my life.

The Aspen is known for the calming melody it emits when the wind flutters its leaves.  Some believe this wind speaks to them in a distinctive voice.  Each time I think of the Aspen from this day forward, I will give thanks for the voice I hear and for the root system for which I am grateful.

“Be glad you had the moment.”  Steve Shagan

These past two weeks have been a time of adjustment, emotion, and reflection for me.  I got a sweet card from a friend with the quote above, and it made me think of all the “moments” which are priceless to me.

Growing up in a small town can have its good points and its bad.  The good is that everybody knows you – the bad is that everybody knows you. This time it was all good.  Without fail, every person who came by to express condolences could recall a sweet “moment” they had with Mama. Perhaps she made her famous macaroni and cheese for their parent’s funeral, perhaps she gave their son or daughter a job in her store, perhaps she sang for their wedding, perhaps she sent a precious card at just the right time, perhaps she visited their home bound parent.  I could name a dozen more “moments” they shared.

A sweet friend wrote me a note about the “moment” that meant so much to her so I will quote her.  “I remember waiting with Ashley (my daughter) and Cooper (her little boy) on the morning of Mason’s (my grandson’s) baptism.  All of the sudden, Cooper looks outside the door and starts running toward the door.  We turn and look outside the lobby window and see Mimi walking toward the door.  Before we can process the lovely sight, we hear Cooper squeal with joy, “Mimi”!!  He kept running toward her to give her the biggest hug with the biggest smile, and her eyes twinkled. These moments in time are sometimes the most magnificent in heart. But I remember thinking, ‘I recognize that joy and that love.’  I knew and know that joy and love, and it is the greatest gift next to the gift of Jesus to us all.”  (Julie)

We have many “moments” to treasure, and it brings much joy to remember them.  In my mind, I would replace Cooper in this story with Mama as she gives the big smile, and Mama with Jesus as He enfolds her with a twinkle in His eye.  This is the best “moment” and one we can all look forward to with great joy and love.

“Strength and dignity are her clothing, and she laughs at the time to come.  She opens her mouth with wisdom, and the teaching of kindness is on her tongue.  She looks well to the ways of her household, and does not eat the bread of idleness.  Her children rise up and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her.  Many women have done excellently, but you surpass them all.”  Proverbs 31:25-29

My Mama, Mildred Ashley Drake, left us suddenly on October 6.  She had just had her weekly hair appointment, and looking as beautiful as always, she must have sat down to read her mail.  Peacefully, she entered into the presence of Jesus and all those she loved who have gone before her.  While we are here mourning, she is there rejoicing.

Mama will be remembered for many things, but perhaps the one thing that she shared with so many was her beautiful voice and her love of music.  She sang for weddings, funerals, our troops at USO shows, church services, lullabies to her children and grands, Christmas cantatas, nursing homes, and community gatherings just to mention a few.  She blessed us by singing for two of her grand daughter’s weddings!  She loved sharing her God given talent.

She loved playing bridge (if she was high), writing, her friends, the Lawrence Welk show, singing in the church choir, UGA football, the Braves, folks in her hometown, the lake, water skiing, snow skiing, the beach, her home, and her extended family. She did a crossword puzzle every day, slalomed for the last time when she was 74 and para sailed for the first time when she was 75!!  She was adventurous, independent, and smart.  An exceptional business woman, she managed my Daddy’s affairs all their married life although many did not know about the woman behind the man.

She was a natural caregiver.  She cared for her Mama and Daddy, her brother, and my Daddy until each of them passed away.

Most of all, she loved her husband, her girls, her grandchildren, and her great grandchildren.  The best times were when we were all together.  We celebrated her 85th birthday on Lake Oconee where she rode in the boat and watched the children ski and tube while giving pointers.

Without exception, everyone loved her and refers to her as the sweetest woman they have ever known.  I think her friend, Anne, said it best when she said, “Your Mama had the gift of love.  She gave it, and she has passed it along to you three girls. Now, it’s up to you to pass it along to your family and others.”  I pray we will live up to the legacy she has left to us.

We will miss our Mama, Mimi, Mi, and Dump, but we are all better people because she was such a huge part of our lives.

“Now your burden’s lifted and carried far away,                                              And precious blood has washed away the stain.                                              So sing to Jesus, sing to Jesus, sing to Jesus and live.”                                    An excerpt from the song, “Come to Jesus”  Lyrics by Chris Rice

“For in Him dweleth all the fullness of the Godhead bodily.  And ye are complete in Him.”  Colossians 2:10  KJV

Our year in Snellville afforded us the opportunity to get Randy through seminary, get our feet wet in ministry, and feel God working to bring a sense of completeness to the call to the ministry.

Randy was very fortunate to have a professor, advisor, and friend all in the person of Bob Gary.  God used Bob to see things in Randy that neither of us could see or detect – things he needed to rectify in regard to his view of Christianity and the world.  It was with only two quarters to go until graduation, that Bob told Randy he was going to recommend an additional clinical quarter for him.  This was met with some resistance and a little anger on Randy’s part as it meant spending much time at Emory hospital ministering to patients on two very serious wards.  Randy objected; Bob insisted; Bob won and that was that!

It was with a great deal of reluctance that Randy began his duties as chaplain. He served on the cancer floor of Emory.  He was drawn almost immediately to a young athlete named Phil, who was battling brain cancer.  They connected as they talked of football, sports, faith, life, death, and the resurrection. They developed a tight bond and a sweet friendship. At night, I would hear stories of Phil and what a great guy he was! I also heard of his suffering, pain, and positive attitude. It was such a sad situation, but Randy was confident that God was at work in Phil’s life.

We left town  one weekend to attend the funeral of Randy’s aunt.  While we were gone, Phil died quietly.  Randy was beside himself with anger and confusion.  How could God let this happen?  He felt he had let his friend, Phil, down by not being with him.

It was at this point that Bob stepped in to help Randy see the things that he had seen all along.  He said, “Randy, your idea of the Christian faith was lacking and very idealistic.  You saw only the resurrection without the reality of the cross.   There would be no resurrection, no celebration, without the cross. The cross opened the way for us to see Jesus face to face.”

God used precious people to help complete us in the love of Jesus.