Aunt Ruth's Service

Job 1:20-22

First, I would like to thank on behalf of the family for being here today and all the comfort that you have poured out to this family and Aunt Ruth!

I am quite sure that Aunt Ruth has touched all of you in some way. This woman was one of the strongest yet compassionate women that I know. I want to borrow something that my cousin had sent me about my Uncle Gene, which I think is very fitting to testify of Aunt Ruth. “He loved John Wayne, "Matt Dillon", and Bear Bryant - tough guys with big hearts.” I believe Aunt Ruth loved the idea of these guys too, but more than that Aunt Ruth was a tough lady with a HUGE heart!

OBIT: Mrs. Ruth Baggett Carden age 77 of Wolf Log Road Flomaton, Alabama passed away Friday July 30, 2021 in a Pensacola, Florida medical facility. She was a native and long time resident of Repton, Alabama before moving to Flomaton, Alabama. Mrs. Carden was a member of the Friendship Free Will Baptist Church, Graduate of Repton High School, and retired as the district secretary from the Alabama Forestry Commission with 30 years of service.

Survivors: (2) Sons- Tony Carden of Brunswick, Georgia Rick (Jennifer) Carden of Birmingham, Alabama Grandchildren- Aaron (Saraya) Carden, Elizabeth Carden, Reece Carden, Cameran Carden, Brady Carden Great Grandchild- Remington Carden ***Preceded in death by: Parents- Hollie and Allie Bradford Baggett Husband- Arthur Douglas Carden Siblings- Katherine Baggett, Carlos Baggett, Curtis Baggett, Barbara Baggett Almon. Living: Gerald Baggett, James Baggett, Larry Baggett, Joyce Baggett Conger, Joan Baggett Calambokidis

There are so many stories that I can tell you about my Aunt Ruth! Some that are funny, some that are hilarious, some that are somber, some that are inspiring, some that are just truly amazing! It reminds of Philippians 4:8 “Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise (anything praiseworthy), think on these things.”

This verse is most definitely used to describe the Goodness of God found in the person and work of Jesus Christ. I also find that this verse can be of the most comfort when we are at this point in life!

Aunt Ruth will be missed, but she left so many praiseworthy memories, that we will be remiss if we neglect them.

Let us not let the bad ones take away from the many powerful praiseworthy memories!

Aunt Ruth covered a lot of ground in her life, as a daughter, sister, wife, mother, aunt, friend, and most importantly a faithful follower of her Lord Jesus Christ, which she cherished the most and her faith is what brought out the wonderful works in her!

Rick and I are the same age and I spent a lot of time with them, I don’t remember Aunt Ruth ever whooping me. I do however remember walking up to their house from Grandpa’s and I saw Rick run out the door, headed for the woods. Seconds later Aunt Ruth come out the door yelling at Rick to come back. She then yelled in at Tony and said: “Tony, you go get him or I will whoop you too!” A few minutes later Tony came back with Rick. From what I saw that day, caused me to not ever want a whooping from Aunt Ruth!

There are so many stories from the paper route that they used to have, she would be bundled up so much you couldn’t even recognize her in the winter. She would be delivering papers in her sleep. Stopping at a stop sign she rolled down the window and threw a paper out, but there were no houses there!

She served faithfully at the Forestry Commission for many years! I remember going to her retirement party and she was loved by so many!

Dad told of a day that he wasn’t where he was supposed to be and got his little Datsun pickup stuck. He called Uncle Doug, who in turn called Aunt Ruth. Dad said that in little while a big ole truck pulling a bull-dozier on a trailer to pull Dad out. The guy looked at Dad and said “This is kind of an overkill, ain’t it?”

But, that was Aunt Ruth! When it come to helping someone she was wide open!

She loved her family! If you wanted to see her light up ask her about her children and grandchildren!

She was so proud of them!

I remember asking her about Aaron visiting her a few weeks ago and she swelled up with pride! She did that when you asked about her grandchildren!

She loved hanging with her best friends, they even continued to gather and play games together! She loved them very much!

She loved her community and her church! Always faithful to serve! If anyone here wants a lesson on servanthood, give me a couple hours of your time and I will share with you countless meals, time, and love shared with those in need and even those that didn’t have a specific need, she would just love on them, just because!

Was serving folks right up till the day before her stroke!

She could pick peas and butter-beans with the best of them! I couldn’t hang with her! What some of you don’t know she would go and pick the fire out of those vegetables and give all of her part away!

Bro James said that she went in halves with Bro Cowboy on picking some peas or butter-beans. He said she picked a good mess of them and gave everything she was supposed to take away!

Even after her stroke, Rick told me that he had to take her to the dentist in Brewton. When the got done, he was taking her back to Jay. She pointed for him to go towards highway 31. She kept pointing and directing Rick, while Rick was questioning everything. “Where are we going?” Rick had no idea but to just follow her pointing! She finally got them to a long driveway and Rick had no idea whose house they were at and why! They stopped at the house and she pointed at the door, Rick said “I’m going”. They were at Libby Dantzler’s house and Aunt Ruth just wanted to check on Steve because she knew he had been sick!

I can go on and on! I have seen her at the bedside of folks nearing the end of their lives, getting up yard sales for folks, cooking food for families!

She was faithful to her family! She took her mom in to care for her! She took care of Uncle Doug so faithfully during his difficult time here!

She truly never shirked a task, always faithful!

I remember when we had a water line break, she wouldn’t have it any other way but to come and bathe at her house and she cooked us some fried pork chops! My youngins still to this day talk about those fried pork chops!

There is truly so much more, we could go on forever! I will read from Job 1:20-22.....Satan approaches God and God asked him what was he doing, satan said that he was roaming about the earth. God asked him if he had considered His servant Job? One that is blameless, upright, fears God, and turns away from evil! God had a hedge of protection around Job and God lifted for satan to test Job. Job’s children was killed and his financial well being was removed on the first wave of the test.

I said all of that to bring out Job’s response.......

The Lord gives! I will speak of the next thing in a moment, but the Lord has truly given to us in the life of Ruth Carden, it was a life of faith, faith in the complete person and work of Jesus Christ!

She was truly a wonderful gift! James 1:17 “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.”

I am thankful for everything praiseworthy about Aunt Ruth!!

Pray.........

Song..................Old Rugged Cross

Lastly in Job’s statement after his first trial, he said The Lord gives and then he said the Lord takes away.....

Romans 14:8 says this: “For whether we live, we live unto the Lord; and whether we die, we die unto the Lord: whether we live therefore, or die, we are the Lord’s.”

Aunt Ruth believed that with every fiber of her being.....”we are the Lord’s” It spoke true in her actions!

Rick told me yesterday, that over the last 2 and a half years Aunt Ruth endured some difficult changes in her life! Right after the stroke she was hit with one thing after another. Losing loved ones, battling physical challenges, and just day to day living not being able to use her right side and not being able to talk!

She met every one of those challenges with a determination fueled by her faith in Jesus Christ!

The questions rise up inside of us and we wonder why?

One of my favorite movies in Sgt. York and in it he says “The Lord do work in mysterious ways”

He does, because His ways are not our ways nor His thoughts out thoughts, as high as the Heavens are above the earth so are his ways and thoughts above ours!

No way we can ever know the true reason of why or who this was for, but I believe maybe I can shed some light on the test she had in this life!

I believe much like Job, God knew who can handle this trial of faith! Aunt Ruth! If there was anybody more serious about their faith in Jesus Christ and more determination, I don’t know them!

There was one instance I will never forget that I want to share with you........

As most of you know that this year has not been kind to Aunt Ruth’s physical health. On top of major health issues more was added!

In all of these changes Aunt Ruth, much like Job, did not blame God or waver in her faith!

However, it was tough challenge! Most of the days were tears! One particular day, I was visiting with her, she was crying. I was trying to help. We started off reading Scripture, then we tried Hallmark channel, I also tried turning to an Alabama basketball game (You all know how she loved the Alabama Crimson Tide) they were in the NCAA tournament, but that didn’t work.

I sat there a minute and we went back to Scripture and I read from John 1. Aunt Ruth closed her eyes as she always did when I would read her Scripture, like she was soaking it in!

These are the verses I read: John 1:9-13........... As I got to verse 12 and continued she began to raise her left hand in praise! I thought she was crying more, but she was praising God!

Ignorantly, I was trying to fix her crying, but she just looked at me and put her hand on my cheek, with the most compassion she could muster up, as if to say: “It is ok, I know you are trying, but get back to that part about being a child of God and being born not of blood, nor of flesh, but of God!”

Even though at times it didn’t seem like Aunt Ruth was looking past her physical trial and seeing the Glory of Jesus Christ!

That caused me to think of this verse Romans 8:18 “For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.”

She could see that Glory that only comes to the children of God!

Philippians 3:20-21 says it best “For our conversation is in Heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ: 21 Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto His glorious body, according to the working whereby He is able even to subdue all things unto Himself.”

Rick said it yesterday, she is talking today she is praising around the throne with both hands! At this point in the process, in Heaven I mean, whatever we are going to be like is going to be like Jesus, perfect and in a perfect state!

No more pain, no sorrow, no tears, no more death!

To me Aunt Ruth no matter her circumstance on this earth was defined by her faith in Jesus Christ! Hebrews 11:6 “But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.”

She has truly received her reward now!!!

Pray........

Song..........Victory In Jesus