{My friend Patsy's husband died suddenly and unexpectedly on October 15. He was a godly preacher and preached all up and down the east coast as a "circuit rider". Patsy wrote this article just after his homegoing for a preachers' wives' newsletter, "The Weaker Vessel". I think it will be a help and inspiration to many of us.}
Psalm 94:17-19 says, "Unless the Lord had been my help, my soul had almost dwelt in silence. When I said, My foot slippeth, Thy mercy, O Lord, held me up. In the multitude of my thoughts within me Thy comforts delight my soul."
Our faith must endure many things during a lifetime. A lot of times in our life we may be called upon to trust our Lord, even when we cannot see the way clear. I sing a song written by Ginny Owens that says, "The pathway is broken, the signs are unclear, and I don't know the reason why you've brought me here, but it's just because you love me the way that you do, then I'm going to walk through this valley if you want me to. I'm not who I was when I took my first step but I'm clinging to the promise you're not through with me yet, so if all of these trials bring me closer to you then I'll walk thru the fire, if you want me to. It may not be the way I would have chosen, as you lead me thru a world that's not my home but you never said it would be easy, you only said I'd never go alone. So take me on the pathway that leads me closer to you, and I'll walk thru this darkness Lord, if you want me to."
Fain preached a message on what to do when our souls need comfort and where to find that comfort. His points are: 1) The first place we can find comfort is in the scriptures, the Word of God. 2) In the Holy Spirit, because He is our comforter; 3) In the church, the House of God. I just didn't realize when he was preaching it how soon I would be practicing it. We've been married for 41 wonderful years. We have 4 children and 11 grandchildren. Our life together has been so blessed. There have been sorrows especially when our oldest son had leukemia but the joys we've shared far outweigh any heartaches. As my children and I sat round our kitchen table the Friday morning after his homegoing on Thursday we all agreed that there wasn't one bad memory that we could think of about him. He was always loving, always gentle and kind. He wasa playmate to our children when they were smaller. He taught them by example how to slide down red clay hills, how to roll up their pants legs and splash in mud puddles, how to walk in the rain. Some of their fondest memories of when they were small is all of them lying with him on the floor in front of our stereo listening to stories and songs on the big, long-play albums until they all fell asleep or sitting on the porch in the winter all wrapped up in blankets looking at the stars and him telling them stories. He carried these traditions on with our grandchildren. He was their best buddy and they couldn't wait for him to get home from his preaching trips so they could come over and play with him and spend the night. They were his joy and delight.
I can truly say he was everything Ephesians 5:25 says a husband should be, "To love his wife as Christ loved the church and gave Himself for it." Everyone who knew him could see this in him. He treated me like a baby and he thought he still had to take care of our children and help them out even though they all have homes of their own and probably had more money than he did. He just enjoyed helping them out. Only his love for the Lord surpassed his love for his family. He delivered his heart each time he preached and had a great love and compassion for people. The morning of his sudden homegoing we calledhis sister from the hospital to tell her what happened-that he had a heart attack and didn't make it and she said, "No, that can't be so. Giants don't die, just little people." That's just what Fain was to all of us, a gentle giant of a man.
He was a donor, so the eye bank took his eyes and I hope someone sees more clearer today through his eyes. His heart was the best part about him but he gave it to God and to the church.
I've been amazed at the mercy of God to me and the children during this time. He truly is the God of all comfort and is proving Himself every day to be that ever present help in time of need. The Bible is full of promises and I find comfort in these verses. He said He would never leave, nor forsake me. Isaiah 54:5 says, "Thy Maker shall be thy husband..."
Fain was my sweetheart, my darling, and my life but I find comfort in knowing that he is with the Only One he loved more than me. I thank God for letting us enjoy 41 years together and I know it won't be long until we will be together again forever.
Psalm 94:17-19 says, "Unless the Lord had been my help, my soul had almost dwelt in silence. When I said, My foot slippeth, Thy mercy, O Lord, held me up. In the multitude of my thoughts within me Thy comforts delight my soul."
Our faith must endure many things during a lifetime. A lot of times in our life we may be called upon to trust our Lord, even when we cannot see the way clear. I sing a song written by Ginny Owens that says, "The pathway is broken, the signs are unclear, and I don't know the reason why you've brought me here, but it's just because you love me the way that you do, then I'm going to walk through this valley if you want me to. I'm not who I was when I took my first step but I'm clinging to the promise you're not through with me yet, so if all of these trials bring me closer to you then I'll walk thru the fire, if you want me to. It may not be the way I would have chosen, as you lead me thru a world that's not my home but you never said it would be easy, you only said I'd never go alone. So take me on the pathway that leads me closer to you, and I'll walk thru this darkness Lord, if you want me to."
Fain preached a message on what to do when our souls need comfort and where to find that comfort. His points are: 1) The first place we can find comfort is in the scriptures, the Word of God. 2) In the Holy Spirit, because He is our comforter; 3) In the church, the House of God. I just didn't realize when he was preaching it how soon I would be practicing it. We've been married for 41 wonderful years. We have 4 children and 11 grandchildren. Our life together has been so blessed. There have been sorrows especially when our oldest son had leukemia but the joys we've shared far outweigh any heartaches. As my children and I sat round our kitchen table the Friday morning after his homegoing on Thursday we all agreed that there wasn't one bad memory that we could think of about him. He was always loving, always gentle and kind. He wasa playmate to our children when they were smaller. He taught them by example how to slide down red clay hills, how to roll up their pants legs and splash in mud puddles, how to walk in the rain. Some of their fondest memories of when they were small is all of them lying with him on the floor in front of our stereo listening to stories and songs on the big, long-play albums until they all fell asleep or sitting on the porch in the winter all wrapped up in blankets looking at the stars and him telling them stories. He carried these traditions on with our grandchildren. He was their best buddy and they couldn't wait for him to get home from his preaching trips so they could come over and play with him and spend the night. They were his joy and delight.
I can truly say he was everything Ephesians 5:25 says a husband should be, "To love his wife as Christ loved the church and gave Himself for it." Everyone who knew him could see this in him. He treated me like a baby and he thought he still had to take care of our children and help them out even though they all have homes of their own and probably had more money than he did. He just enjoyed helping them out. Only his love for the Lord surpassed his love for his family. He delivered his heart each time he preached and had a great love and compassion for people. The morning of his sudden homegoing we calledhis sister from the hospital to tell her what happened-that he had a heart attack and didn't make it and she said, "No, that can't be so. Giants don't die, just little people." That's just what Fain was to all of us, a gentle giant of a man.
He was a donor, so the eye bank took his eyes and I hope someone sees more clearer today through his eyes. His heart was the best part about him but he gave it to God and to the church.
I've been amazed at the mercy of God to me and the children during this time. He truly is the God of all comfort and is proving Himself every day to be that ever present help in time of need. The Bible is full of promises and I find comfort in these verses. He said He would never leave, nor forsake me. Isaiah 54:5 says, "Thy Maker shall be thy husband..."
Fain was my sweetheart, my darling, and my life but I find comfort in knowing that he is with the Only One he loved more than me. I thank God for letting us enjoy 41 years together and I know it won't be long until we will be together again forever.
