Delta Dawn When the Light Comes On: Week Nine

"Jesus said, a third time, 'Peter, do you love Me?" Peter was grieved and said, 'Lord, You know that I love You.' Jesus said to him, 'Feed My sheep.'" John 21:17

Uncle Guy and I raised six children together, of whom I was one. He had lost his left arm in a car accident before I knew him, but he refused to be handicapped. He could bridle and saddle a horse, then open and close a fence post gate with one hand. (For those who may not know, this gate was usually, barbed wire, three to five strands, strung on two or three fence posts. The anchor post the gate attaches to has a wire loop on its bottom to place the gate post into. Another wire loop on the top of the anchor is pulled onto the gate post to close).

Guy was an able ranch hand. He could toss an 80-pound bale seven bales high. Many a little one was helped onto a horse or to milk a cow. His 'hook' prothesis stirred gravy while biscuits baked and we set tables. He saved my father's life, helped bury my brother, and championed my cause. Guy was a true friend.

We lost contact as I left for college and Guy sought his future. One day, I heard, on KOGA radio, that Guy had caught his right hand in a corn auger. A benefit dinner was planned to help with medical expenses. I rushed to find him. After seven surgeries his thumb and a mittenlike palm remained. By now, he was a single father of two grown sons, a lovely daughter, and I was a grandmother.

Guy had made Jesus his Savior. He devoted time to better Ogallala and small towns in Keith County, NE. A gracious farmer had taken his fire extinguishers Christmas shopping when our car caught fire in the Alco parking lot. The crisis was over when fire trucks arrived. Guy gave us his car to get us back to Julesburg. We had it on loan until we found just the right, red pickup to buy.

As the Lord works, a well-dressed, articulate hitchhiker came to our church in Julesburg, requesting a ride to the eastern edge of Ogallala so he could 'hitch' from there. We took him in our distinctive pickup. We thought it an ideal time to go see Guy. He spotted us from his window. He was troubled. 'Is it true," he asked, "That when I go to Heaven, I must accuse people who were not good to me, and then be accused by people I may have harmed in my life?"

"Guy!" I shouted. "When you received Jesus as your Savior, did He forgive you of all your sin? Didn't He take all sin, sadness and shame to hell?" "Yes".

"So," I asked, "Why would He bring it up, again?" Guy's blue eyes lit up. He grinned, "I just knew it! God is a good God!" Later, we hugged farewell. Within three days Guy was safe in the arms of Jesus.

Psalm 103:2 "Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits; who forgives all your iniquities, who redeems your life from destruction. The Lord is merciful and gracious. As far as the east is from the west, so far He has removed our transgressions from us." Next Week: Witty Inventions