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This morning I received the call that my friend Fred suffered a massive heart attack late last evening and had gone home to be with the Lord.
Fred was a retired Methodist minister who had been a regular attender at Warsaw Wesleyan since before I arrived as an Assistant Pastor. He and his wife Vera have been one of those weekly hand-shake visits that I look forward to, and Fred, as a retired minister would always talk to me about the church, about my areas of ministry and we shared a special friendship.
A few weeks ago Fred was diagnosed with inoperable pancreatic cancer and was placed in the care of a nursing home. I had the privilege of visiting Fred on Monday afternoon just this week and enjoyed my hour-long visit with Fred immensely. Before I left, I told Fred that it wouldn’t be the last time I came to visit him and on my way home I told Jess of my plans to go back weekly to spend time with Fred while I still had the chance. My heart is hurting that these opportunities will no longer be possible.
Fred told me that he was without any pain on Monday and when Pastor J and Dan Warren visited him on Tuesday he had the same attitude. I am thankful the Lord took him before any pain began to consume him.
I am sad to no longer have Fred here with us – and my heart aches for his dear wife Vera, but I am comforted in the fact that Fred is enjoying his new body in his glorious home with our Lord!
I will have a part in Fred’s funeral sometime in the next few days. I would appreciate prayers for my part in that service as I attempt to share from my experiences with Fred in the last 5-years. I would also ask that you remember his now-widowed wife, Vera as she deals with this new grief.
Tonight, The Unit showed itself yet again to be the greatest show on television.
I hope you watched it.
In other non-television news, Jess and I ate at the China Palace for lunch today while we waited for our Church staff Christmas photos to finish printing at Wal-Mart.
As we sat and ate, we placed Ella, who was sitting peacefully in her carseat, up on the table to watch us devour our General Tso’s chicken (and other Chinese-goodness). As we were sitting there enjoying our meal, a young Chinese boy who couldn’t have been older than 4 came up to our table, saw Ella, and preceded to go around Jess’ back and pull the chair out next to her. He then climbed up on the chair next to Jess and began to talk to Ella! He touched her feet, he touched her hands and continued to chat with her! She even attempted to chat back with him! It was absolutely amazing to behold.
Just as quickly as he had arrived at our meal, a lady (mom?) who was in authority over him soon arrived to take him away. He pleaded with this lady for what seemed like permission to stay and chat. He continued to say, “hi” to Ella and on his way down off the table where he was now sitting over her, said, “bye”.
I’m telling you that it was like we were actors in a movie that we didn’t know was being filmed!
It’s nearly December, and here in Warsaw, I don’t think it’s been below freezing for more than a day or two at a time! Sure I enjoy the warmer weather when it’s “supposed” to be cooler, but I WANT/NEED snow!
Is anyone in the stevansheets.com readership experiencing snow yet this Season?
I can’t wait for it to fall in large sums. I’m pretty sure our new Pontiac Montana has never experienced the kind of snow-driving that I’m planning on putting it through this Season (safely, of course).
I also can’t wait to take our daughter out in the snow (for pictures, of course). Is she too young to go sledding this year?
