Community Baptist Church
Celebrating 25 years of ministry!

To My Precious Ayden,

 

I know that you are with the Lord and cannot read this letter, but I choose to write it anyway.  This is Pops.  I wanted to thank you for the great times that we shared on this earth.  Times like:

  1. Swinging in the back yard.
  2. Sitting on my lap while you ate.
  3. Giving me my vitamins.
  4. Laying under the covers.
  5. Eating peanuts in the fort.
  6. Sitting beside me while I read my Bible.
  7. Wanting me to put your shoes on.
  8. Taking a nap together.
  9. Always wanting to ride in my truck.
  10. Letting me hold you in the pool.
  11. Gathering pinecones for the fire.
  12. Touching me with those precious hands…always holding on.
  13. Running down the hall at the motel.
  14. Jumping on the bed at the motel.
  15. Asking if my coffee was hot.
  16. Talking with me on the phone.
  17. Letting me hold you at church.
  18. Petting Penny.
  19. Eating pizza together.
  20. Asking how many days till I come.
  21. Always giving me my glasses.
  22. Letting me buckle your seatbelt.
  23. The list is endless.

 

I miss you dear grandson.  Words cannot describe the emotions on this your 4th birthday.  I would have loved to have shared so many more with you, but I cannot.  I will share a place where “time is no more” one day.  Till then, I pick up my cross and carry on.

 

Lord, I thank you for taking care of my Ayden.  I trust no other.  I praise you for the time that you gave me with him.  I truly would not have traded it for anything.  There are some who have never had the privilege to love a grandson.  I am still struggling with the loss, but I know…I know…I know…what it is to love.  I am grateful for that.  I praise you, Lord, for allowing me to experience a piece of heaven while on earth.

 

Love ya to infinity and beyond,

Pops

 

MONDAY PRAISE

9-12-11

 

  1. The first flower was seen in Ayden’s Place.  8-29-11
  2. Bro. Philip Duffy III was ordained as deacon ofCommunityBaptistChurch.  Great service and great pizza fellowship after the service.
  3. Friends and family made a great effort to encourage me on my 56th birthday.  It was my first birthday since the loss of Ayden.  Tough day to go through.
  4. Kept busy on my birthday by a summer luncheon for our Azalea ministry and Wednesday evening church service.  8-31-11
  5. Have been blessed by a couple of visiting families attending services over the last few weeks.
  6. The men of the church worked hard to have Ayden’s Place mostly completed by my birthday.  It is absolutely beautiful.  A true blessing to my heart.  I appreciate Bro. Duffy’s great leadership in accomplishing this task.
  7. I enjoyed watching a hummingbird hover in Ayden’s Place.  God is good to give me sights like this.  I believe that it is the first time that I have ever seen a hummingbird in my backyard in all the years that I have lived here
  8. The Lord has helped my son as he faces some situations in his church.  Mike  Jr. is a fine man of God.  His mom and I are very proud of him of Mike’s reliance upon the wisdom and power of God.
  9. The Lord is helping my preacher friend, Bro. John Horner, as he recuperates from surgery.  It has not been an easy recovery, but he keeps rejoicing in God’s goodness.

10. Finished preaching through the book of Leviticus on September 4th.

11. I have had the enjoyment of watching of couple of our young men play football over the last few weeks.

12. My grandson, Caleb, is adjusting well to attendingCalvaryBaptistSchool.  We enjoyed attending grandparents day at the school last Tuesday.  My grandson, Wesley, began homeschooling last week.

13. The Lord continues to grant me living grace on a daily basis.  He especially helped me on Ayden’s fourth birthday, September 5th.

14. I praise the Lord for the marvelous “touch of Fall” weather of late.

 

God is mighty good…He is mighty…and He is good…all the time!

MONDAY PRAISE

9-26-11

 

I am currently reading through the book of Psalms in my Bible reading.  This morning, the Lord spoke to me through Ps.116:7.  “Return unto thy rest, O my soul….”  I have found that when I allow myself to selfishly become controlled by my emotions, heartaches, distresses, etc. that I have no rest.  However, when I return to simple faith in the all knowing, all powerful Savior, I find rest.  I have tasted bitterness of the soul and it is far from pleasant.  When I return to the “Shepherd of my soul” I always find rest.  Glory be to God!

 

PRAISES:

  1. Mr. Sam Hudson is recovering well from his recent bout with some lung issues.  He has returned to work and doing relatively well.
  2. Miss Diane is recovering from a medical procedure on her back.  Still has some healing to do, but is slowly healing.
  3. Community Baptist Bible Institute resumed on September 12th.  We currently have over twenty students enrolled for this semester.  I love their hunger for the Word of God.
  4. Darryl, Erin, and the kids were involved in a car accident on September 18th.  The Lord kept everyone of them safe from harm.  We praise the Lord for His goodness and mercy.
  5. Darryl was officially certified for the tower at theNew OrleansAirport.  We are grateful for God’s blessing upon our wonderful son-n-law.
  6. Held our church softball team barbecue last Saturday.  We had a great group of folks enjoy the food, fun, and fellowship.  The Lord gave us great weather for the event.  My thanks to Bro. Duffy and his crew for the wonderful food for the event.  I so enjoy all the little kids running around and getting dirty.  It did my heart good to be with God’s people.  Darryl and I lost to Bro. Duffy and Dave in horseshoes, but we are determined to repay them at the Fall Festival.  Lord willing, that is.
  7. Had a great attendance in all three services yesterday.  The Lord blessed the preaching of His Word and gave us a sweet spirit in the services.  It is truly the work of God using His Word to accomplish His will.  No man could accomplish this.
  8. Mike, Sarah, and the kids are well inTexas.  I have learned to not take that for granted.  Blessed be the name of the Lord!
  9. Nancy and I are enjoying our time with Caleb and Kaelyn at home and at church.  It is a dream come true to have our grandchildren live in the same town with us.  We thank God for allowing it to be so.

 

God is mighty good….He is mighty…and He is good…all the time!

MONDAY PRAISE – CHRISTMAS 2011

 Every year, at this time, I write in front of the Christmas tree.  I do so again, unfortunately, it is the tree on Ayden’s grave.  It is a beautiful little decorated tree that is equipped with ornaments and a small solar panel to enable the lights to shine at night.  An orange, Ay’s favorite color, duck is hanging near the top.  A small plane sits on his tombstone.  It is difficult to put into words the emotions that are flowing through me at this time.

This seems so unnatural to me because he left us so young.  It is, in my mind, backwards for a grandfather to visit the grave of his grandson.  So now my steps are a little slower because I bear the heavy weight of my love for him in my heart.  I identify with the sad songs of Christmas instead of those that are full of joy.  I put the Christmas lights up on the house and the tree in the house out of duty to my other five grandchildren.  Before this tragedy, I must admit that I had no idea of the personal struggle that loved ones experienced during this time of year.  I also know that this is not a battle fought in public, but alone, behind closed doors or while driving my truck.

I have become part of the “minus one loved one” crowd.  It is made up of those who will have an empty spot at the table for Christmas.  It is a stocking hung so that he will be apart of your Christmas.  It is recognizing the preciousness of homemade ornaments made by little hands on the tree.  It is living by memories, for that is all you have now.  It is facing personal agony while attempting not to ruin it for everyone else.  I thank the Lord for His presence in difficult times.

Please don’t think me ungrateful.  Over 35 years ago, Nancy and I determined that we would serve God with our family.  We gave ourselves and all that would be to the Lord.  We find our strength and courage in the God whose hands control our lives in the past, present, and future.  It does not mean that we do not bear the burden of grief, but He enables us to carry the load.  And though I may stumble sometimes, His right hand upholdeth me.  He truly is the Rock that is higher than I.

What do I do?  I must “carry on” for my three stubborn grandsons and two sweet granddaughters.  I “keep on keeping on” for my wonderful church family that support us beyond expectations.  I admire the courage of Darryl and Erin for establishing “Ayden’s Hope Foundation” to help other parents who have lost a child.  I determine to remember and honor those who helped me in my darkest hour.  I seek to serve others, especially those whose lives have been shattered by a tragedy.  I praise the Lord, for I know that He always deserves it.  I honor the Christ whose birth we celebrate.

Nancy and I wish, from our hearts, a Merry Christmas to you and yours. We firmly believe that God is mighty good….all the time!