To the Love of My Life

You are the love of my life and will forever be. We have walked together in marriage for 63 years and in ministry for over 60 years. A journey that I never dreamed of or could have imagined. We shared our love and commitment with our three awesome children, Rhonda, Randy, and Robin. Thank you for being the husband and father our children needed. We wept over the loss of Robin in 2012 after her seven-year battle with cancer. Please give her my love and tell her I will see you both some day when Jesus calls me home to join you. My heart is broken and lonely, but I know I will see you both again.

Please know I’m well taken care of by our family and all our friends that loved you so much. They will hold and comfort me when I’m lonely and crying. They will encourage me when I feel no hope, even though I know my hope comes through Jesus Christ and that all who come to Him will receive forgiveness and receive eternal life if they just ask.

I will always remember how God took a young boy and shaped and changed his whole life and gave him an everlasting love for others. He took that young man and used him mightily to lead many people to know and love Jesus with their whole heart. That young man led this very fearful and insecure young girl to Jesus. Thank you. Because of your zeal and selfless love for Jesus I will be able to join you in heaven some day.

And because of your love and encouragement, I gained confidence and boldness from the Lord. I watched you walk up to people and lovingly share Jesus with them, no matter where we were–in a restaurant, driving through our neighborhood, or in a store, it didn’t matter. Your heart was so open to whatever God led you to do.

I watched God open your heart to those across the oceans, no matter how far. You reached out to the thirsty, the hungry, and the trafficked–anyone who needed rescuing. Thank you for showing me what serving GOD looked like. When I was a little reluctant to trust God in what seemed to be impossible situations, you always reminded me that all things are possible through Jesus Christ. I do know that every time we went to the mission field, I came home feeling more blessed than I could ever have imagined. To see the needs of others and then realize that we could help make the difference between life and death brought purpose and joy to us both.

You will be greatly missed, but I will always be blessed by you being in my life. Your children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren will miss you deeply and always remember how much you cherished them all.

Goodbye, my Love.

My Love forever and always your wife and partner in life,

Betty