Sometimes you can be traveling down the road of life and all of a sudden something will come at you from out of nowhere and leave you stranded by the road.This has been one of those weeks in which I have been on an emotional rollercoaster. It started last Friday afternoon when I visited Carolina Medical Center to visit an infant that was in intensive care and dying. A precious little boy named Samuel that started life with way too many problems to survive. I was asked to officiate at a grave side funeral this past Saturday. The family and friends were so precious and I was touched by their love for God as they sang songs in the Swahili language. The little boy was dressed in a suit and tie and looked like a little doll.
Then on Saturday morning I received a call from the wife of one the men in our church. The wind was knocked out of my sail when she informed me that her husband had died from a massive heart attack. I couldn't believe my ears; it was incredible that a man in good health, who worked out in the gym and who was only 54 years old had died so soon. He had served for one year on our board of elders, taught Sunday school, sung in the choir and was head of our world missions board. He will be greatly missed. There was well over two hundred people that attended his funeral and it was obvious that he had touched many lives.
Then on Tuesday evening I was called upon to officiate at the funeral for the mother of one our men who serves on our board of elders. She had lived to be 86 years old and was well known in the area. She had worked at a hot dog cafe and was loved and respected throughout the city. She rode in parades and was known as the "hot dog queen". I felt honored to officiate at her funeral.
Three funerals in one week along with church services, a district meeting, a women's ministries fund raiser and "Senior Adult Day" with special guests to be entertained and cared for. This is not to mention getting ready for my daughter's wedding in less than two weeks, counseling with those who are troubled and dealing with the county office in securing a permit for work to begin toward our sanctuary.
When you add all of this to the burden and care of the church it makes for difficult days. So when someone complains about their pastor or the church not meeting their expectations maybe you should challenge them to pray more and complain less; it might just help him through another difficult day!
