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| Golden Gloves age 16 |
Awe what a handsome young man I saw at church. He was sixteen, in High School, drove a car and he then had a girlfriend. I knew about him from my 10th birthday year on…felt certain I’d marry him. But of course, he needed to get rid of the girlfriend and notice me. And he did. We married at my seventenn and his twenty.
Never did I think that young man would become such a
clown. He set my world spinning. In the first few years we struggled. He called
me a giggle box in those days. Husband, well, he was quiet, content to stay
home and watch football.
When he attended Bible College that guy I lived with
changed. I’m not sure if the Holy Spirit showed him his natural gift to draw
people to Him, or if God awakened the clown in him.
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| Romantic Journey 2001 |
Or when we flew to Oregon in 2003 for Gary to tell our
family and friends goodbye when doctors said he’d die soon. Rather than act like a dying guy, husband and
my brother-in-law Jack created a nonsensical fish story. Silly, yes, but this
photo has brought laughter to so many over the years.
God has given each of us a gift to share with others—what
is your gift?
Galatians 5:22-24The Message (MSG)
22-23 But
what happens when we live God’s way? He brings gifts into our lives, much the
same way that fruit appears in an orchard—things like affection for others,
exuberance about life, serenity. We develop a willingness to stick with things,
a sense of compassion in the heart, and a conviction that a basic holiness
permeates things and people. We find ourselves involved in loyal commitments,
not needing to force our way in life, able to marshal and direct our energies
wisely.
Another Fish
Story
In 2012 I created a blog site for Creating
Memories for Disabled Children Foundation (CM4DCF) . The photos are my favorites. They tell the stories of the
excitement of both disabled children and adults. It doesn’t take a professional
photographer to help these people keep their memories alive year after year.
Ken Coreson is the President of the
CM4DCFI. He and his wife Patty are my friends from our years of ministry in
Enterprise, Oregon. After we moved, Ken pastored the Nazarene church in Enterprise for several
years. It’s a privilege to help them with their new
endeavor to help those less fortunate be able to experience hunting and fishing
for themselves.
One day Patty fished with a group of the
disabled adults from the area. Two men in wheel chairs were wheeled onto the
boat. “It is so much fun to watch these guys catch even one small fish. They
get so excited,” she said.
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| Gary with his fish |
The men took home a string of fish by
the time they finished. When Ken took the fish to the cook, the cook said, “You
help them catch them, I’ll clean and cook em.”
My favorite Bible fish story is John 21:10-11
Jesus said to them, “Bring some of the
fish you have just caught.”
Simon Peter climbed aboard and dragged
the net ashore. It was full of large fish, 153, but even with so many the net
was not torn.
Every time I read the story I think
about Peter. Jesus is waiting for him and yet he counted the fish. Peter truly
was a real fisherman.
Special Note: Gary in the photo was so excited to fish once more--thought it would never be possible. Unfortunately, Gary died last year, but the good news is, he enjoyed the big day on the boat-I imagine Jesus' disciples enjoyed their fishing expedition, too.
Still Lionhearted, Kat
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