Tribute to Mrs. Paige with an "i"

I met Mrs. Paige (that’s spelled with an ‘i’ she points out to me) in Green Bay. When I met her she was 97 years old, born in 1909. She told me she grew up in Illinois on a farm and then later in the Marrinette area.

She grew up in a Christian home she says. She knows right from wrong. She tells me that she loves people. She doesn’t like to talk about herself and I suspect that is because it hasn’t been the easiest 97 years. I sensed that she was really broken, and now… lonely. She is a really sweet lady who made quite an impression on me. She “adopted me” as her grandchild and says that I am a good Christian boy. She asks me “Why did you come here? Do you know someone? Do you have family here that you visit?” I tell her, “No, just you Mrs. Paige. I came for you.”

Being around that kind of love is something special. She is very affectionate always holding your hand or putting her hand on your arm…that kind of thing. You get a sense that when you’re with her that she delights in you. She says that young people need to learn how to live right and make good choices and follow God’s path.

She started to tell me about her son, that he is away in California and never visits. She tells me about her kids who aren’t following God and the tears come. I hold her hand and look into her face as she cries for them and tells me, “ I just wish they knew, I just wish they knew.” And then with a resigned sigh she says, “But it doesn’t do any good to get all emotional about it.” “God hears your sighs and counts your tears,” I tell her. “I never heard that expression before”, she says and starts to smile. “O yes it’s true, he knows every last tear.”

I look forward to seeing Paige every time I visit – which isn’t often enough. Every time I come for a visit I look for her. Sometimes she rolls in a bit late during my concert and I greet her and she always has something real nice to say like, “I wish there were more young people like you sharing the love of Jesus”. She comments also about how lovely it is to hear Gospel music.
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“The righteous perish, and no one ponders it in his heart; Devout men are taken away, and no one understands that the righteous are taken away to be spared from evil. Those who walk uprightly enter into peace; They find rest as they lie in death.” Isaiah 57:1-2

April 9th, 2010 - I was looking forward to seeing Paige again today. I arrived and was informed by one of the residents, “your friend passed away”. “Mrs. Paige?” I asked. “Yes.” She had just turned 100 this last summer. “That’s too bad.” I said. I realized that I had a responsibility to the rest of them to play my best and encourage them the best I could.

Later in my set I took a moment to talk about Mr.s Paige and dedicated a song that moved me when I first heard it. The song “Abide with Me”.

“Abide with me, fast falls the eventide.
The darkness deepens, Lord, with me abide.
When other helper’s fail, and comforts flee,
Help of the helpless, oh, abide with me!”

I love that last line because I often feel quite helpless and it is such a comfort to know God is my help.

After the concert a man wheels up to me, and, as a tear fell from his eye, he says to me, “that was beautiful.”

Paige was an example of love to all who knew her. I hope some of those “young people” are listening. (I wonder who would qualify as “young people” to one who is a hundred years old?) Your grandma says, “Learn to live right and make good choices.”

Freely Forgive

At some of the most recent concerts I have been sharing about the importance of forgiveness. I share two stories. The first is about a woman who was bitter because she refused to forgive, the other about a man who chose to show forgiveness and likely changed a mans heart for the better.

I was at a bible study once a while back at someones house. There was an older woman there whose son was dying in the hospital. Some of those at the bible study were trying to reason with her and tried to encourage her to visit her son. She refused and said how her son had wronged her and that she could never forgive him. I read a book recently that said, "not forgiving is like drinking rat poison and waiting for the rat to die" (Traveling Mercies - Anne Lammot). How true that is. It was tragic seeing the bitterness and unforgiveness in that womans life.

Next I share the story of Kris Vallotton, a man who owned a cars parts store and a car repair shop. One day he came in to find that someone had stolen some rims and tires from his store. Then one day a man shows up at his car repair shop with these rims and tires on his truck.

Kris had a decision to make. He could have just phoned the police as any sensible person would, but instead he chose to do something radical - he chose to forgive. He called the guy into his office and said something like, "Look, I know what you did. I know you stole my tires and rims but I want you to know that I forgive you. And to show you that I forgive you, I'm not even going to charge you for the repair work done on your vehicle."

The man was stunned and speachless and just sat in his truck for five minutes before leaving.

I can only imagine the effect that day had on that man. I would bet that he didn't steal anymore. I would bet that the forgiveness and grace shown him that day changed his heart far more than jail time would have.

Forgiveness has the power to heal this broken world. Forgiveness is the one thing that brings healing when nothing else can. But first we must receive God's forgiveness.

Imagine for a moment God calling you into his "office" and saying to you, "Look, I know what you did. I forgive you. And to show you that I forgive you, I have personally paid the punishment for your misdeeds and crimes that you deserve. Receive my forgiveness and be a part of the cure to this broken world. Give the one thing that heals the wounds of the world - forgive. As Jesus once said to his followers, "freely you have received, freely give."

And might I add - "Freely forgive."

Thanks for Listening,

Daniel Lovett
www.reflectworship.com

"The woman who saw Jesus"

01-31-2007

Today I met a 73 year old woman named Mildred. She told me her story of when she was a child and had polio. She told of how she had actually died as a child and went to heaven and met Jesus, "the most handsomest man I have ever met" she says. When she met Jesus, he had told her to never take her eyes off him as long as she lived.

She said Jesus then twirled her around - spinning her while holding her hands and then she described to me what she saw there. She described fields and fields of the most beautiful wildflowers and grass that was a perfect blue-green and not a single thorn or weed or thistle to be found. There was a city made of crystal as high as the eye could see without normal doors or windows.

There was a mountain there as well, with trees, and a river that was so crystal clear you could see every stone at the bottom. She said that it tasted as sweet as honey.

"I would never deny him" she said. She wept when Jesus told her she had to go back, "but remember this", he said, "never take your eyes off me."

Mildred had danced while I played hymns for them and I am sure that she was a delight for the nurses and staff. She sang with all her heart and I know that to Jesus she sounded beautiful.

Thanks for listening,

Daniel Lovett
www.reflectworship.com