Tuesday, January 20, 2015

I asked mom a question

I asked mom, "How are you doing?" and here is what she said, keep in mind she is 86 years old.

I have become a little older since I saw you last, and a few changes have come into my life since then.  Frankly, I have become quite a frivolous ol gal.  I am seeing five gentlemen every day.  As soon as I wake up , Will Power helps me get out of bed.  Then I go to see John.  Then Charlie Horse comes along, and when he is here he takes a lot of my time and attention.  When he leaves Arthur Ritis shows up and stays the rest of the day.  He doesn't like to stay in one place very long, so he takes me from joint to joint,.  After such a busy day  I'm really tired and glad to go to bed with Ben Gay.  What a life!

You must know that I found this in a pile of old papers and have no idea where it came from but it sure seems like the truth as I get older.

But now let me tell you about Dr. and Mrs. Williams and what they did after they retired at 84 years old.  They retired from over 40 years on the mission field working and living in huts with dirt floors not realizing the financial potential of those first two letters with a period following them, Dr.  They gave all they could give and gave some more until they were 84.  Not so fast!  At 84 they went on a mission trip to Mexico with us so they could serve the poor folks of Mexico.  I guess they could be accused of being greedy rich Americans who don't pay enough taxes to help the poor, tongue in cheek.  They served every day all day treating the sick for about a week.  We all came home blessed and ready to get back to work.  Dr. and Mrs. Williams took off for northern Iraq to help the Kurds.  YES, at 84 plus.  It has been several years now and I find myself thinking about what am I going to do with my life when I retire.  Shouna and I pray that we will be like Dr. and Mrs. Williams and continue to give of ourselves for the sake of Christ.  I look at these folks and am in amazement how they continued until the very end of their lives to give for the sake of Christ.  I never heard them speak of the five men mentioned in the story above.  I never saw them complain of their circumstances or what they could or could not have had.  Cool folks.

So what did I see in the Osage?  I also saw Larry and Dorothy Olsen (yes cousins who spelled it differently) that gave of themselves as well but also shared with me through their actions that by good works I could not earn a place in heaven but only by trusting in Christ personally.  Yes the Williams also had this gift and they shared it with the world.  I am so blessed and thankful for these good and faithful servants.

So what do you learn in the Osage?

  • Givers gain
  • Good works alone does not lead to Christ
  • Giving is a great gift
Thanks for your time,
gary@thepioneerman.com



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