Funeral for Ronnie Childs

Poor in Spirit

When I think about Ronnie, I think about what Jesus said in Matthew 5:3: “Blessed is the man who is poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” That is, blessed is a man who doesn’t think too highly of himself. Blessed is a man who doesn’t make himself the center of his own universe. Blessed is a man that is defined by humility, gentleness, and kindness. I was able to get to know Ronnie over the last 10 years or so, and that fits the man I knew to a tee.

To Himself and the AT

Ronnie was always understated. He was often the quietest person in the room. His smile seemed to almost surprise him we he couldn’t hold it back any more. Ronnie and I both enjoyed backpacking, and we’d often talk about it when he was over for Thanksgiving or a family event. He was making plans to hike the whole AT. The idea of being able to hike 2000 miles with only what he had on his back was attractive to him. He didn’t need much, and he didn’t want much. He wanted to just enjoy what God had made and live his quiet life. It reminds me of what Paul wrote in 1 Thessalonians 4:10-12 “But we urge you, brothers, to do this more and more, and to aspire to live quietly, and to mind your own affairs, and to work with your hands, as we instructed you, so that you may walk properly before outsiders and be dependent on no one.”

Bonding through Suffering - Phone Charger

Ronnie’s life wasn’t always easy. In fact, it was in suffering that I most bonded with him. He had numerous lengthy hospital stays, and I’d often go and visit him. He never complained though. He always just talked in his understated way. But then, almost five years to this very day, I found myself on the other side of the hospital bed with my life on the line. And, Ronnie made it a point to come a visit me and talk. But, he didn’t come empty-handed. I remember that he had two different six foot phone chargers. He told me that while he was in the hospital he’d come to appreciate a long phone charger he could use from his bed, and he’d brought two, one for a Samsung and one for an iPhone because he wasn’t sure what type of phone I had. He wanted to make sure that he had the right one. That’s the kind of man that Ronnie was. Thoughtful. Kind. Poor in spirit, but quick to lift your spirit through his own kindness.

A Tent that Groaned

That makes me so very thankful that what Paul writes in 2 Corinthians 5 is true. 2 Corinthians 5:1-10 “For we know that if the tent that is our earthly home is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. For in this tent we groan, longing to put on our heavenly dwelling, if indeed by putting it on we may not be found naked. (Oh, how Ronnie’s groaned in his broken down earthly tent!) For while we are still in this tent, we groan, being burdened—not that we would be unclothed, but that we would be further clothed, so that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life. He who has prepared us for this very thing is God, who has given us the Spirit as a guarantee. So we are always of good courage. We know that while we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord, for we walk by faith, not by sight. Yes, we are of good courage, and we would rather be away from the body and at home with the Lord. So whether we are at home or away, we make it our aim to please him.

I’m convinced of this: because Ronnie placed his in Jesus, he’s away from the body. Oh, this body is going to raise one day, but today he’s away. He’s at home with Lord, and he feels good. He’s home, where those who are poor in spirit are exalted in Christ. Let’s pray.