Jewels

There are two people I call the jewels of our Christian family. Both ladies are examples of people who love the Lord with all their heart, soul, mind and strength. Their attitudes have given rise to lives of compassion, care and concern for their families and others. One is a feisty, French Canadian Roman Catholic, and the other is a more passive, loving lady from a Mennonite background. Life wasn’t easy for either of them, but they fought through adversity to develop selfless lives of kindness. In short, they both love the Lord and it shows.

A third jewel was found in our church. Known as Uncle Bud to many, he had the most radiant smile, arising from a life of praising and working for his risen Christ. “I’m So Glad, Jesus Lifted Me” was the song he sang to himself as he went to surgery for a cardiac procedure. Upon visiting him in hospital, my wife, the Lutheran church choir director, promised him the choir would sing that song the next time he was in church. You guessed it, the next time that sparkling jewel of a man was in church, was at his funeral. My wife kept her promise.

Say a special prayer today for those living, loving jewels who are family to you.

Thank you, Jesus, for sparkling people. Amen. — G/CW