“Having purified your souls by your obedience to the truth for a sincere brotherly love, love one another earnestly from a pure heart[1]”
In many ways this past week was quite difficult for me. I had been struggling with flu like symptoms where I was just completely drained of all energy. To go along with this illness there was plenty of work to be done. With multiple papers to write and hectic days at work I was not certain that I could accomplish everything that was on my plate. Then something happened fully unexpected.
I had received a phone call that a woman I had met a few months back had just passed away. Her name was Nora. In having only met with her once I was not certain I knew much about her. From what she had told me she helped build this very church along with her children by selling fried pies to the workmen as they went to lunch. This was quite an intriguing story.
After visiting with her for a short while I had learned that she was a fiery woman of that old time faith that we rarely see anymore. She told me of what an abomination it was to see women going to church in pants and men should always wear their suits (I was quite thankful that I was in a suit that day). She fully believed in the power of the blood and just knew God would heal her through and through. Some would say that never did come to fruition, others (as would I) would disagree.
In meeting with her children in preparation for services I learned yet another level of Nora. They described a loving, caring, and devoted woman. They told me of a mom, not a mother. To some there may be no difference in these titles, but to those who have experienced it know better.
The difference is that anyone can be a mother, but it takes love, care, and devotion to be a mom. Nora cared not for this world and the possessions around her, but she cared greatly for her people, and we were all her people.
The Word teaches us to love one another greatly, for love covers a multitude of sin. Well, I believe that Nora covered a couple multitudes herself, and now as she sits with Jesus attempts to cover some more.
As a pastor I meet many people day to day and deal with marriage and death and birth at any given moment. At times it can seem to run together, but not Nora. In one meeting with her I fell in love, not because of who she was, but because of whom she served. Therefore in memory of an old time Kentucky saint can we should all try to love a little more not because of who we are, but because of whom we serve.
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