Something different this week
PROTECTED CONTENT
If you’re a current subscriber, log in below. If you would like to subscribe, please click the subscribe tab above.
Username and Password Help
Please enter your email and we will send you a password reset link.
In My Humble Opinion
Jodi McDade
Tuesday was not my day. I had struggled to come up with the topic I wanted to write about, finally came up with it, and then – after more than 900 words – hit the “do not save” button. So after screaming I decided to just write a very brief column about something different this week.
The last couple of weeks have been challenging for those of us who are members of Rockford Baptist Church. While we have been celebrating the Easter season we have had two of our deacons in bad health.
Joel Glover had been fighting cancer for several years, and we considered him a true miracle to still be with us. He had good days and bad days, but fought on like the fighter we knew him to be. But we got the news last Friday that his time with us was running out.
Saturday morning we got the news that Joel, while still a miracle to us, went to be with Jesus and left his pain and suffering here on earth. It was left for his family and friends to struggle with the loss while knowing he was now in such wonderful hands. God is good. His funeral will be the day this edition of the paper comes out.
We had also been dealing with another one of our deacons, Robert Smith, being in a hospital in Huntsville after experiencing an aneurysm in his abdomen while in Cullman. He was rushed to the hospital in Huntsville where he underwent major surgery to repair the damage.
For two weeks we prayed for his recovery, knowing he would be one of our miracles, also. His family never left his side, and our prayers were answered. He is still in the hospital, but is progressing.
If you know Robert, you will understand that his normal patience level is being stretched to the limit! We continue to pray for him and his family until he can be back home with us. God is good.
We never know when our last breath will be taken here on earth. And we never know when an illness or accident is going to occur. So we need to be sure our relationship with Jesus is strong and that God knows us by name.
The good news is I can say without any reservation that both Joel and Robert were/are strong Christians, and I have no doubt their names are in the Book of Life.
As someone who has watched my husband struggle with illness and death, I know the gut-wrenching emotions that Melanie, Ellen and their children have and are going through. My prayers are with them for strength and God’s grace. I also pray for any of you who are experiencing struggles and challenges like these, and I hope you will get your life in order.
And, after writing this, I think God had something to do with me hitting that “do not save” button. This is much closer to my heart.