I miss him so! He passed in 2016 at age 67 – in his curmudgeon stage.
We were good buddies on and off through life.
When the years between our visits lengthened,
the reunion was always as if we had been together yesterday.
Born James Robert, known as Jimmy in his youth,
He required the moniker, James R, as an adult.
By the time I was giving Toastmaster speeches,
he became “Old Jim” to me.
We enjoyed the same Grandma, of course,
but his connection with JESUS was interrupted at an early age.
In his adult years he claimed to be an atheist,
then an agnostic, and later on? Confused!
What followed was an in-depth study of The Man Christ and his “story”.
James R had read The Bible through several times!
“I know JESUS lived; he was a very good man;
I just can’t get the GOD part!”
JESUS was never the main topic of our conversations,
but I made sure to mention some “good things HE did for me”
each time we met.
At one point, we were sitting at his kitchen table.
I had recently had an “Ah-Hah” moment, and brought my Bible with me.
I was excited! “James R, you’ve got to hear this Psalm!
IT WAS WRITTEN ABOUT ME!!”
He put a new song in my mouth! Psalm 40:3 NIV
I had written “This is MY Prayer 4-05-12” in the margin.
I read the entire Psalm to James R.
Then we sat in a pleasant silence for a few minutes.
For the next four years our “occasional JESUS talk” had no major revelations.
When Old Jim passed, I went to the hospital to “pick him up”.
He looked like a new man – at least 10 years younger –
a sweet, glowing complexion as if a babe. I cried.
Months later I mentioned his appearance to my Pastor.
She said, “That’s the face of innocence in the presence of GOD.”
I’m crying as I write this. HOW PRECIOUS!!
I NEVER GAVE UP ON OLD JIM! HE NEVER GAVE UP ON JESUS!
HE GOT THE GOD PART!!
That’s because, JESUS never gives up on us!
Do you have a story to tell? Let’s hear it!