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The Joys and Sorrows of Life
By Doug | December 26, 2008
The Garland family has enjoyed a wonderful Christmas in every regard. Our fellowship with one another has been pleasant and frequent. It has been refreshment to all. In the providence of God, however, our time of joy has been flanked at the beginning and at the end by two funerals.
I am reminded of the words of Solomon in Ecclesiastes. Solomon’s words can be hard to understand at times. (I rather expect that as the wisest of men, his thoughts might be on little higher level than most of us encounter on a daily basis!) Ecclesiastes presents many contrasts in life that tend to vex our souls. For example,
Ecclesiastes 3:1-2 To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven: A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted;
Ecclesiastes 7:2-4 It is better to go to the house of mourning, than to go to the house of feasting: for that is the end of all men; and the living will lay it to his heart. Sorrow is better than laughter: for by the sadness of the countenance the heart is made better. The heart of the wise is in the house of mourning; but the heart of fools is in the house of mirth.
Ecclesiastes 7:14 In the day of prosperity be joyful, but in the day of adversity consider: God also hath set the one over against the other, to the end that man should find nothing after him.
Ecclesiastes 8:17 Then I beheld all the work of God, that a man cannot find out the work that is done under the sun: because though a man labour to seek it out, yet he shall not find it; yea further; though a wise man think to know it, yet shall he not be able to find it.
Ecclesiastes 11:7-8 Truly the light is sweet, and a pleasant thing it is for the eyes to behold the sun: But if a man live many years, and rejoice in them all; yet let him remember the days of darkness; for they shall be many. All that cometh is vanity.
The bottom line (to employ an overused economic term) is that we will not completely understand the purposes and works of God in this world. The contrasts of life make us thirsty for the life to come in God’s presence. We rejoice in the good things in this life as tokens of what will be in eternity. We sorrow over our losses which become reminders of our need for God.
Let me pay tribute to the two people to whom we said a temporary goodbye.
Dr. Marshall Neal
Dr. Marshall Neal entered into the presence of the Lord at 89 years of age on December 16, 2008. He spent the last seven years in the Barge Hospital infirmary at Bob Jones University. Dr. Neal taught me New Testament Introduction and Hebrews in Greek in graduate school. Both courses were thorough and very helpful. Several Dr. Neal-isms remain with me today. After turning in various papers, the students would ask him when he planned to grade them. He would tell us that he was allowing them to ripen like a peach or tomato so that the grades would be better. I caught myself one time saying nearly the same thing to some of my students! We could always tell when he was resurrecting some fact or position from his brain’s vast storehouse of knowledge. He would stroke his chin and lean back for a few seconds before quietly dispensing an answer. Dr. Neal graciously gave me a C- in the Hebrews in Greek class. I suspect that I deserved far less. He knew what kind of schedule I kept in those days and decided to show compassion. I routinely encounter students that are struggling. I enjoy showing some form of compassion when I can. Dr. Neal provided a great example of a tough but compassionate college teacher. I visited with him occasionally at Barge though his mind was slipping. Many colleagues and students honored him at his funeral. He trained untold numbers of preachers, teachers, missionaries, and scholars. His reward in heaven will be great! Two of his sons (John and Nelson) go to Hampton Park Baptist Church with us.
Mrs. Julie Hadley
Mrs. Julie Hadley entered the Lord’s presence on December 23, 2008. Her husband Mike passed away 17 years ago. Mike and I were roommates for just long enough during my sophomore year for us to establish a great friendship. He introduced me to Julie by showing me her picture on his book shelf in the dorm. They married about the same time that Joyce and I did, and their two children, Amy and Kevin, are about the ages of our two oldest children. We were in the young married Sunday School class together and all of us worked at BJU in some capacity. When we were moving back to Greenville years later, I asked Mike to inspect our house for us. The day before we moved back from Florida in July, we found out that Mike had cancer. He died that same November. Mike’s youngest sister Susan asked me to be her adopted brother and Julie asked us to be the guardians of the children in the event something happened to her. For the last 10 years, Julie suffered from many serious and discouraging illnesses. She always looked for God’s hand in her trials and depended upon His grace. Her situation provided many opportunities for the folks at church to help her in one way or another. I think the last thing I did for her was to turn down the water pressure at her house which was causing the pipes to bang. She supported Teaching Faithful Men, my radio program, for several years. Amy just finished student teaching for her master’s degree in education. Kevin runs a welding business. Both are fine young adults that will need our continued prayers and support in the days to come. Julie’s funeral brought tears to many eyes. It also rejoiced our hearts to think that her suffering is over and that she is in glory with her Lord and with her husband.
To God be the glory, great things He has done!
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