Winnie
This week I received the latest issue of Preacher Talk, a
publication for preachers produced by Cecil May Jr., the Dean Emeritus and
Professor, College of Biblical Studies at Faulkner University in Montgomery,
AL. I have always enjoyed and benefited
from reading this publication. But I was
especially interested in the contents of this issue because I knew that Bro.
May’s wife, Winnie, had passed away only about one month ago. In light of the loss of his wonderful wife,
what would Bro. May write?
I began reading the short articles on page one. As with every edition of Preacher Talk, I was
reminded of some profound biblical teachings, learned some new things, and even
laughed at some quips – including a “Winnie-ism.” Yet, I found myself asking, “But how are you
doing, Bro. May? Tell us what Winnie
meant to you.”
Then in my reading I came to the long article on page
three and noticed that Bro. May was not the author of the article. Instead, it was a marvelous tribute to Cecil
and Winnie May written by John Dobbs entitled “The Preacher and the Lady.” John described well what I have admired in
this godly Christian couple. I “amen-ed”
John’s last statement in his article: “And I wonder what the next issue of
Preacher Talk will look like. I hope
it’s all about Winnie.”
And on the final page of Preacher Talk, it was.
Bro. May wrote about the day that Mrs. Winnie
passed. “The light of my life, the wind
beneath my wings, my best friend and constant companion for more than 62 years,
was gone.” “Neither of us dreaded death
for ourselves or for the other, but we both prayed not to go through long
drawn-out pain or mental incapacity. God
answered our prayers, though I devoutly wish He would have waited a few years
longer. As I write this, it has just
been a few weeks, but, oh, how I miss her!”
“God gave me a wife who was truly a helper suited to me
for 62 plus wonderful years. He gave us
excellent health for most of those years.
We have been too greatly blessed to complain now.”
Bro. May concluded: “Thank you, God, for giving me Winnie
and for the promise of eternal reunion.” *
I add: “Thank you, God, for Cecil and Winnie May. Together, they have taught with their words
and their lives what it means to live the Christian life. They have influenced countless others to
become Christians and to become better Christians. They have reminded us of the hope that we
have in Jesus: the promise of eternal reunion.”
“For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a
shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the
dead in Christ will rise first. Then we
who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to
meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord. Therefore comfort one another with these
words” (1 Thessalonians 4:16-18).
That blessed hope is found in Jesus, for He died for our
sins so that we might be forgiven of those sins and receive the gift of eternal
life (Ephesians 1:7; Romans 6:23).
God will save and give eternal life to those who place
their faith and trust in Jesus (Acts 16:30-31), turn from their sins in
repentance (Acts 17:30-31), confess Jesus before men (Romans 10:9-10), and are
baptized (immersed) into Christ for the forgiveness of their sins (Acts 2:38). Then, as we walk in the light of His Word,
the blood of Jesus continues to cleanse us from all sin (1 John 1:7).
And, because of Jesus, we can look forward to an eternal
reunion with our loved ones in Christ.
Won’t YOU trust and obey Christ so that YOU may share in
that blessed hope?
-- David A. Sargent
* Preacher Talk (Vol. 31, No. 3; Summer, 2016). Cecil May Jr., Editor. Faulkner University, Montgomery, AL.
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