Ms. Wilma

If you’ve ever watched a 95-year old woman cry, and your heart has not melted, then your heart must be made of stone (or close to it). Yesterday afternoon we had the privilege of conducting a worship service at the Spring Creek nursing home in Murray, KY. However, this service was special because it was brought about due to an insistent and zealous request of one of the oldest, living members of Union Hill: Ms. Wilma Byers.

Ms. Wilma is a tell-it-like-it is person. She’s lived 95 years on this earth, and she doesn’t have time to beat around the bush. Some people would say she’s a bit abrasive in her less-than-tactful approach to telling the truth, but it’s refreshing to me. At least you always know where you stand with Ms. Wilma (especially if you’ve missed a week or two when coming to visit her :)).

All joking aside, every member of Union Hill that participated in that service, every staff member watching over the 30 or so elderly in the room, every family member sitting next to their loved ones…had to walk away a better Christian than they were when they arrived. As soon as the singing started, eyes lit up across that cafeteria. Mouths strained to get out the words of those well-known hymns like “This World is Not My Home” and “Farther Along”. You could see that, in their minds, they were transported back to their younger years…when they would sing praises to pass the time. Having those songs on their lips, they went into the pastures and fields of olden days…giving God the fruit of their praise as they worked a work that we know little of today.

Yesterday, every song brought tears to the eyes of someone (young and old alike), but those droplets of joy in the eyes of Ms. Wilma were too much for even the most Herculean of emotional walls. Seeing her…sitting with her daughter and grand-daughter (all of them trying to hold back the tears and sing at the same time) was a beautiful picture of a faithful family that will forever be etched into my mind.

After a brief devotional (based on the departing words of Paul in II Timothy 4:6-8) we closed the service with a fitting song: “To God be the Glory.” Under Ms. Wilma’s eyes were the remnants of long, glistening lines running down to her neck. She said, “I’ll never forget this day. I love you all so much.”

The doctors had given Ms. Wilma five to six weeks to live after finding an aggressive form of pancreatic cancer was spreading throughout her body…and that was seven weeks ago. She’s still just as spry as the day I met a young, 89-year old Ms. Wilma 6 years ago. Maybe the Lord will allow her to live until next month, when we can come together and worship with her again. But even if she passes to her reward before then…I know I’ll get to hear Ms. Wilma sing again in the sweet by and by, where all her tears will be wiped away.

Yesterday was a day I’ll never forget. Thanks, Ms. Wilma.