Caroline West

It was great hearing the stories today from Caroline’s life.

I got to meet Caroline many years ago. Her husband Jay started coming on Wednesday nights. He was the drink guy. He took care of all the drinks for the kids. Jay would come in and do his job then leave.

He was really quiet and didn’t let people know he was here. Except for the time he brought His whistle and out of nowhere blew the whistle to get the kids quiet.

Jay served a while and then he brought his wife to serve with him. And let me tell you she was a worker! She served well and was a hard worker. I found out later that this is how it worked in their family.

Jay would go and check things out a while and then Caroline and the family would follow after he had done his investigation.

Caroline loved Jay and was an excellent care taker for him.

She loved her puppies. I am not sure when she took them on a walk who walked who. The dogs were big but she being small worked to keep them in line.

Two scriptures that remind me of Caroline this afternoon.

The first comes from Genesis.

Genesis 2:8–15 HCSB

8 The Lord God planted a garden in Eden, in the east, and there He placed the man He had formed. 9 The Lord God caused to grow out of the ground every tree pleasing in appearance and good for food, including the tree of life in the middle of the garden, as well as the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. 10 A river went out from Eden to water the garden. From there it divided and became the source of four rivers. 11 The name of the first is Pishon, which flows through the entire land of Havilah, where there is gold. 12 Gold from that land is pure; bdellium and onyx are also there. 13 The name of the second river is Gihon, which flows through the entire land of Cush. 14 The name of the third river is the Tigris, which runs east of Assyria. And the fourth river is the Euphrates. 15 The Lord God took the man and placed him in the garden of Eden to work it and watch over it.

and

John 20:1–4 HCSB

1 On the first day of the week Mary Magdalene came to the tomb early, while it was still dark. She saw that the stone had been removed from the tomb. 2 So she ran to Simon Peter and to the other disciple, the one Jesus loved, and said to them, “They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we don’t know where they have put Him!” 3 At that, Peter and the other disciple went out, heading for the tomb. 4 The two were running together, but the other disciple outran Peter and got to the tomb first.

John 20:9–18 HCSB

9 For they still did not understand the Scripture that He must rise from the dead. 10 Then the disciples went home again. 11 But Mary stood outside facing the tomb, crying. As she was crying, she stooped to look into the tomb. 12 She saw two angels in white sitting there, one at the head and one at the feet, where Jesus’ body had been lying. 13 They said to her, “Woman, why are you crying?” “Because they’ve taken away my Lord,” she told them, “and I don’t know where they’ve put Him.” 14 Having said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, though she did not know it was Jesus. 15 “Woman,” Jesus said to her, “why are you crying? Who is it you are looking for?” Supposing He was the gardener, she replied, “Sir, if you’ve removed Him, tell me where you’ve put Him, and I will take Him away.” 16 Jesus said, “Mary.” Turning around, she said to Him in Hebrew, “Rabbouni!” —which means “Teacher.” 17 “Don’t cling to Me,” Jesus told her, “for I have not yet ascended to the Father. But go to My brothers and tell them that I am ascending to My Father and your Father—to My God and your God.” 18 Mary Magdalene went and announced to the disciples, “I have seen the Lord!” And she told them what He had said to her.

May you turn and look and see that Jesus is more than just a gardener but that He is truly Lord. Look at the traits of Caroline’s life that point to Jesus. Think of the times that she showed love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faith, gentleness, and self-control. Let these memories point you to Jesus and to say that He is truly Lord.

Pray