"Hi Howard!", is what I yelled as I raced by one of the sweetest elderly gentleman in our church on Sunday, August 4th.
He smiled.
That was it, the last thing I said to one of my favorites at church.
At the age of 81 Howard King had a heart attack Monday, August 5th. Things went up and down all week until he met the Lord that Friday.
Talking to many people that week and following, he was not just one of my favorites. His gentle, kind hello was very well like and encouraged many other saints at my church. It was great to hear many stories of encouragement!
It was not lost on me that I heard about his heart attack (at church) on Monday morning and his physical decline on Friday afternoon, book-ending URC's VBS week. The theme of the week was
The Race Is On. Our theme verse was:
Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.
Consider him who endured from sinners such hostility against himself, so that you may not grow weary or fainthearted.
Hebrews 12:1-3
Race well ran, Howard; race well ran.
This observation of a man who raced well till the end, gives me greater vision for the little ones. It is for them I have been praying that they run well all the days of their lives, like Howard, on top of praying that:
- They love a sweet spouse well, like Howard
- They work hard and respectably at their jobs, like Howard
- They are encouraging servants to their local churches, like Howard
- That at funerals their children sing hymns and read scripture, like Howard's
- And their adorable grandchildren sing the special grandparent bedtime song about turning from sin and doubt and looking to God on high, like Howard's
(climb, climb up sunshine mountain)
- And praying that on that day when their strength is failing, their end draws near and their time has come, still their souls will sing God's praise unending, Ten thousands years and then forevermore, like Howard
(10,000 reasons (Bless the Lord))
Amen
(So many other things I can write about Howard, like the lunch at the Kings, or how I took their directory photo, but the one that seems most noteworthy to me is in the winters Howard would have cross country skis in his car in case he felt like going. The first time it snows really good this winter, I'll miss asking him if his skis are in his car!)
