Michael E. Wood
July 29, 2013
The righteous flourish like the palm tree and grow like a cedar in Lebanon. They are planted in the house of the Lord; they flourish in the courts of our God. They still bear fruit in old age; they are ever full of sap and green, to declare that the Lord is upright; he is my rock, and there is no unrighteousness in him. Psalms 92: 12-15 (Emphasis mine)
In September 2011, the Lord opened a door of opportunity for
the gospel at Atria El Camino Gardens in Carmichael ,
California
Lucy, while suffering with Parkinson’s disease, attended our
Sunday afternoon worship services regularly while at Atria until her condition
debilitated to the point in which she had to move to another facility. Though
her body was withering away, her mind was still sharp and we had developed a
close relationship in the Lord. When she moved to the Terraces in Roseville we began to
visit her there and the Lord opened another opportunity for the gospel among the
residents.
With her condition continuing to worsen, Lucy had to be moved
once again to an Eskaton facility in Carmichael
which provides a greater degree of personal care. As you can imagine, if you
would put yourself in her place, she was not always happy about these moves as
she was having a difficult time understanding why these things were happening
to her.
Out of the numerous hymns, songs and scriptures we have had
the privilege of sharing with her, we found ourselves focusing on what God has
provided for us through the Psalms and the letter to the Philippians. One of
the things the apostle Paul wrote nearly two thousand years ago became very
evident to Lucy. The things which happen to us during our sojourn here on
earth, our Sovereign God and Savior has designed to serve for the advancement
of the gospel.
While visiting with Lucy on July 24th, she began to share
with me how she had witnessed to another lady concerning Christ the day before.
She said, “I’m afraid I did poor job of it.” And then with tears welling up
in her eyes, she said. “That’s the first time I have ever told anyone about
Christ. I’m not sure why I am even telling you this.” I smiled and said, “I do!
Because it is a great encouragement to me to know that our labor is not in
vain, in the Lord.” She then continued by saying, “I was thinking about when I
see Him I don’t want to go without bringing someone with me.”
I assured her that she had been a part of all the
opportunities that had already taken place but am rejoicing in her outspokenness
at this time in her life. We are told by the scriptures that one plants,
another waters, but God gives the increase. While others around her are
perishing with no hope of eternal life, at nearly ninety-one, Lucy is still bearing
fruit for the glory of God.
There’s another part to this story which may seem strange to
some. A few weeks ago, we in the Sacramento
area endured a record breaking heat wave. In the intense heat, the flowers in
our little garden at the foot of the stairs didn’t stand a chance and began to
wither away rapidly.
While it seemed that this would be the end of our enjoyment
of the hydrangeas for this season, one little bud began to blossom not long
before this recent visit with Lucy and the following came to mind.
The beauty of late bloomers
Is how awesome they appear
Amidst the withered flowers
Drying as they disappear.
Though some may focus only
On what they no longer see,
The eyes of our Beholder
Guides to see His majesty
Displayed in every aspect
Of this world of His creation
But more so by His Son
He gave to bring regeneration
To know Him and to love Him
In the beauty of His Light
And smell the sweetest fragrance
As He puts an end to night!
No comments:
Post a Comment