'The Honorable Is Honored❣️'

✝️💜⛪️ 'Render therefore to ALL their dues...HONOUR TO WHOM HONOR.' (Romans 13:7) 📖  My father-in-law, Ralph, aka "Jiggs," shall be celebrating his ninetieth birthday, the end of the month, which means, whenever, he and I met, I was nineteen, and, he was fifty three (two years younger than I am presently), which, is "craziness" (the quickly passing of time phenomenon)❣️GOD is obviously blessing him with a long life (Proverbs 3:1+2, Psalm 91)❣️First of all, let me write that, I am very grateful to, our new pastor, and, his wife, Brent and Ana, for having a birthday celebration/night of honor for "Jiggs," who is our church's emeritus pastor❣️I honor them for honoring him❣️I also, honor our church's leaders, whom, wanted to have a celebration for, David and I, in, recognition and honor, of David being, assistant and/or interim pastor, and, me as the church's "First Lady/pianist," intermittently, for the past twelve years, whenever, David, "stepped down," as head pastor, and, went back into full time evangelism, although we declined the offer, it WAS/IS noted, and EXTREMELY appreciated❣️Giving, appreciation and honor, to sincere, faithful, etc., leaders, is a respectable endeavor, not to mention that, it is very encouraging to the one being honored, and, others, who are observing❣️After, pastor Brent and Jiggs, had spoken, during the service, the pastor offered the opportunity for anyone present to "pay tribute," with words, on "pastor Ralph's" (his real first name) behalf.  And then, his sons (he and they are VERY close), several others, and, I believe that, I, was the last one, did so.  I think that, I said, "I couldn't have asked for a better mother and father - in-law❣️ I am thankful for, and, love them both, very much"❣️I meant, each and every, word, that I said, too❣️Anyone who knows me, knows that, I don't say such things, unless, I really mean them❣️I've been in Jigg's family for almost thirty six years now, and, I am truly, thankful and grateful, to God, for having put me in, such a good, Christian family❣️ It was exactly what I needed❣️Jiggs and Dodie, excellently exemplified, what a married, Christian couple, should be❣️They faithfully served, in various forms of leadership, in several churches, throughout their marriage, and, whenever, Dodie passed away, they were serving (Interim Pastor and First Lady) at our church, 'Wait's Missionary Baptist Church,' having taken the position of Interim Pastor, after, they had recently retired from the ministry, mainly because, they didn't want the church to "close it's doors"❣️Everyone spoke words of  respect, love, honor, endearment, etc., about Jigs, and, some of Dodie, and the such, especially, their sons, whom, also shared some, sweet stories, of precious memories of growing up, ETC.❣️It was/is VERY apparent that, they, LOVE, LIKE, ADORE, RESPECT, HONOR, ETC., their father❣️They are vehemently devoted to each other, and, the family, "to a fault"❣️Of course, I already knew ALL of this - prior to their words❣️He IS a fine man, whom, loves his Lord Jesus, and, faithfully continues to, live for and serve, HIM❣️He has always been very kind to me❣️He's told, David and me, the following story, many times, through the years, which, means "the world" to me❣️The story takes place, whenever, he and I, first met, on, David and mine's, first date, at another church, where, he pastored for around thirty years. Anyway, he says that, whenever, he saw me, he thought, and then, told David that, he thought that, I was the most beautiful young lady he'd ever seen❣️WOW❣️😳 "You talk about" a humbling thing for a gal to hear - this is❣️I feel, not only, humbled, whenever, he tells it, but, embarrassed, too❣️❣️☺️ Anyway, I cherish, this "lil" story each time he shares it with me❣️There are MANY stories, about which, I could write, concerning, him, his family, being a part of his family, etc., after being a part of it - ALL of these years❣️We've had an abundance of BLESSED times together, and, he has always been calm, steady, dependable, faithful, kind, moral, respectable, and the such❣️He taught his sons by, word and example, to, work and provide, for their families, be faithful to, God, their wives, church service, ETC.❣️Of ALL the times, in which, I heard him preach, in the past (he hasn't preached for a few years now), I learned, as much, or more, by his (and Dodie's) example, as I observed HOW, in which, they LIVED their life❣️His example, as a father, preacher, pastor, business man, etc., has helped my husband to be better in the various roles of life, in which, he "plays"❣️This echoes on, not only, to my children, his, other sons, grandchildren, nieces and nephews, etc., but also, to, all of his, descendants, brothers and sisters "in Christ," and, "beyond"❣️I just read this quote by Robin Sharma, "pinned" on 'Pinterest,' which says, "Leadership's NOT a title.  It's a BEHAVIOR!  LIVE IT"❣️And, although, he's not PERFECT, as NONE of us are, Jiggs has, attempted and succeed, in "LIVING IT"❣️I admire him for, choosing to "LIVE IT," his qualities - of which - I've previously written in this post, and, LOTS of other reasons❣️I have also, observed his obvious spiritual growth, "in The Lord," since I met him❣️I admire how, he, kept and keeps on "living it," even after, his heart was broken, whenever, his love (wife Dodie), and, his second wife, lovely Jeannie, passed away, and, how he has handled, and still handles, various kinds of problems, heartaches, trials, tests, situations, circumstances, etc., of life❣️There is so much more, in which, I could write about my dear, ole father-in-law, but, unfortunately, I'm running out of space❣️Whenever, we ( without praying about it - enough) started "temporarily" attending "Wait's," with intentions of, being a help to, and serving, with "papaw Jiggs," whom, was beginning to fail some, I NEVER dreamed that, David would end up intermittently serving as interim pastor, nor that, we would still be serving with him at 'WMBChurch,' and, FINALLY, have a new, pastor and pastor's wife, whom, are already "like Frazie family" (we are family - spiritually - right⁉️) twelve years later‼️ HOWEVER, here we are‼️ The pastor also, presented Jiggs with a lovely plaque/trophy, with an honorary inscription engraved on it, which, was another thoughtful gesture❣️🖤 LIFE LESSON:  If, you want other people to HONOR you, then, LIVE HONORABLY❣️ ALSO, RESPECT, and, find ways, by which, to HONOR HONORABLE people❣️❣️Remember that, whatever area of life, to which, we are referring:  one gets back - in the same proportion - the same thing, in which, one gives (bad and good), or, "in other words," like 'The Good Book,' says - we reap what we sow (Galatians 6:6-7)❣️🤔😘☺️🙏🏼💙...👋🏼...until next post...