I would love for you to have met Jewel. She was a very special lady.

Whenever you met Jewel, whenever anyone would go to see her, she would light up and gush. I could gush about her and fill pages and pages of her kindnesses. She used to call me Rowbie. I didn’t have the heart to correct her. Jewel made pies for people and each pie was her specialty.

She would talk, without one bit of fear, about “her time” and how it was coming. She talked about going to be with Jesus as someone would talk of stepping over into the other room. Then she did.

I miss Jewel. She was gifted in kindness and insight.

Recently in the Confirmation class, we talked about some of the blessings of the Lord’s Supper. One of the blessings is dining in some wonderful way with the folks who have gone over to the other side of eternity. We come together with the great cloud of witnesses and we, together, taste just a bit of heaven.

There are many people I dearly miss now. When I take communion with you, I am mindful of the cloud of witnesses. I am mindful of the victory meal we taste together and the blessings we enjoy; blessings beyond my understanding. During Communion I am mind-full of my Mom, of my Dad, of many others dear to me. I am mindful of many I do not know, folks who may be very dear to you…

…and I am so very thank-FULL.

Holy Communion is such an extraordinary gift of God and I am so thankful to have it with you.

In Christ,

Pastor Rhodie