9. Diane Gregory, “Fishing Diane,” A True Inspiration
I met “Fishing Diane” in the late 1990’s, when she joined Midway Church, not long after I became the pastor. She kept to herself, existing in the shadows of church life for many of those years, but I kept hearing stories of her expertise and love for fishing. She always gave me a handmade card for Christmas. It usually included clipart from the various church programs of the previous year. She included $5 and a note that read, “Have a burger on me!” However, a few years ago she asked me, “What is your favorite book of the Bible?” “Psalms”, I said. I didn’t know why she had asked and I thought nothing more of it. To my surprise, the following Christmas she gave me a gift that was a little overwhelming at the moment. She had written the entire book of Psalms in her own beautiful handwriting! She had written for me. She continued with her writing the next year, and every year since. She is now 79 years old and it’s harder for her to write. However, she has completed the books of: Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy, Joshua, Judges, Ruth, I Samuel, II Samuel, I Kings, II Kings, Psalms, Proverbs, Isaiah, and the entire New Testament. Her patient and meticulous handwriting and proofing of the scriptures is a testament of the value she places on the Bible and the value she places on me. She has spent many months reading and writing the scriptures so she could present them as a gift to me. Her cursive handwriting is amazingly beautiful! Other than the gift of eternal life, it’s the greatest undeserved labor of love ever shown to me! I can’t describe how humbling it is to receive such. It’s a reflection of the undeserved love of God!
She inspires me to love more deeply!
I’m thankful!
Join me from the start of my “100 Days to 50” journey by clicking here!
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