"She Hath Done What She Could"
A couple of weeks ago on a Wednesday night, our church said goodbye to John and Sarah Buckner. John and Sarah are members of our church who just headed to Portugal as missionaries. They had diligently sought support on deputation and were leaving the next day for the field. John told us of his burden, and Sarah sang just before I brought the mid-week message on faith. At one point in the service, the men of our church gathered around the Buckners to pray for God's blessings on their work. I asked my dad and John's dad, who is a pastor from Illinois, to pray. Pastor Buckner prayed a precious prayer. It struck a chord in my heart when he said, "Lord, twenty-eight years ago we dedicated our son at the altar, and we are here again for the same purpose." It could very well be that this would be the last time that he and his wife would see their son again, this side of heaven; but it was a precious sight, to say the least.
At the end of the service our folks were encouraged to form a line and come and say goodbye to John and Sarah. I took my seat on the platform to rest my legs, which were tired due to the multiple sclerosis, and watched our people shake their hands, hug their necks, and give them a final farewell.
As I watched this scene unfold before me, something in particular caught my eye. One of our ladies, Mrs. Marla Waller, stood in line with something tucked in her hand. I saw her eyes moistened with tears and wondered what was happening. Marla greeted Sarah Buckner; they conversed, and she handed her what had been clinched in her palm. They hugged goodbye, and then Marla came to the platform to speak to me. Marla told me something that has blessed my heart for days now.
Marla had placed sixty dollars in Sarah's hand. This was not just any sixty dollars. This was the money that was in her son's wallet. Lee had been tragically killed in a car accident on a missions trip for Crown College last summer. Lee Waller was one of the finest young people I have ever had the privilege of pastoring. Marla cried as she told me she had promised the Lord that when He wanted her to give that money, she would give it. Marla had held on to that money since the accident and commented that it still smelled like Lee. God called that order in that night, and Marla Waller answered the call. Sarah would later tell me that it had broken her heart, but she was blessed beyond measure.
I wonder what God will do with that money. It could very well be that someone will get saved, a home will be restored, or even a young man from Portugal about Lee Waller's age will be called to the ministry. I don't know all of those answers, but you can rest assured that God will not be out-given! Thank you, Butch and Marla, for being a help to the Buckners as well as a blessing to the church, and for having an open heart to God's leading. He will repay; you can count on it!
At the end of the service our folks were encouraged to form a line and come and say goodbye to John and Sarah. I took my seat on the platform to rest my legs, which were tired due to the multiple sclerosis, and watched our people shake their hands, hug their necks, and give them a final farewell.
As I watched this scene unfold before me, something in particular caught my eye. One of our ladies, Mrs. Marla Waller, stood in line with something tucked in her hand. I saw her eyes moistened with tears and wondered what was happening. Marla greeted Sarah Buckner; they conversed, and she handed her what had been clinched in her palm. They hugged goodbye, and then Marla came to the platform to speak to me. Marla told me something that has blessed my heart for days now.
Marla had placed sixty dollars in Sarah's hand. This was not just any sixty dollars. This was the money that was in her son's wallet. Lee had been tragically killed in a car accident on a missions trip for Crown College last summer. Lee Waller was one of the finest young people I have ever had the privilege of pastoring. Marla cried as she told me she had promised the Lord that when He wanted her to give that money, she would give it. Marla had held on to that money since the accident and commented that it still smelled like Lee. God called that order in that night, and Marla Waller answered the call. Sarah would later tell me that it had broken her heart, but she was blessed beyond measure.
I wonder what God will do with that money. It could very well be that someone will get saved, a home will be restored, or even a young man from Portugal about Lee Waller's age will be called to the ministry. I don't know all of those answers, but you can rest assured that God will not be out-given! Thank you, Butch and Marla, for being a help to the Buckners as well as a blessing to the church, and for having an open heart to God's leading. He will repay; you can count on it!
by Pastor David A. McCoy