Lesson #6: The Right Answer— Jesus
By Steve Henry
Burke County
On one occasion I asked Doug if he was looking forward to going to Heaven. Without hesitation, his response was “Yes sir.” Then I asked him who he was looking forward to seeing when he got there. He and mom were inseparable and I was expecting him to say he wanted to see her, but it wasn’t a big surprise to me when he said “I want to see Jesus.” Just can’t get a better answer than that because Doug knows who is responsible for getting him to Heaven. He also told me he was going to give Jesus a hug and kiss when he sees Him. Over the years God, The Holy Spirit has used Doug’s brief answers to keep my perspective where it should be.
Philippians 4:19 teaches us “But my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.”
No matter what the need, Jesus is the answer.
Lesson #7; Doug personifies the attitude of gratitude.
Doug’s story doesn’t end, it never will, because more importantly, it is the story of the Eternal God living in and through one of His servants, communicating His eternal truth of the power of forgiveness and thanksgiving. Indeed His strength is made perfect in weakness (Ist Corinthians 1:27; 2nd Corinthians 12:9.)
Not only did God use Doug to bring me to salvation but over the years He has used Doug with what many would consider “severe limitations” to continually teach and remind me of these truths, something which I should not have to be reminded with my “fully functioning” brain.
When I pick him up on Saturday morning I’m always greeted with his warm smile. He’s so grateful for “loafering day.” When we go outside, no matter what the weather, he says “It’s a beautiful day.” Not too long after leaving the group home, he says “I get to go to church tomorrow!” During a recent hospital stay, he was diagnosed with a mild stroke. When his doctor asked him how he felt he said “I feel good, nothins’ ailin me.” No matter what you give Doug to eat, when he chews his last bite his response is “Delicccccious.”
Doug loves to celebrate his birthday. After we have his cake, give him his gifts, and sing happy birthday to him he always gives us that great smile of his and claps with such an infectious joy that it brings a smile to all around him. He is so grateful for such simple things.
There is one birthday in particular that has been etched into our memory forever when Doug told us, “I want to thank Jesus for giving me another year.” We all got teary-eyed after that statement but there was not a dry eye in the house when he got up, went out on the back porch, looked up into the night sky, and said, “Thank you Jesus for giving me another year!”
I’ve heard it said, “Attitude determines altitude.” Maybe we could all learn a few lessons about the attitude of gratitude from “the man with half a brain.”
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Steve Henry has been a lifelong resident of Burke County. God blessed him with an incredible lady that he has been married to for 43 years. He has also blessed Steve with two wonderful children and two beautiful granddaughters.
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