Friday Jonathan and I were able to attend the memorial service for Clifford Reynolds, father of Delbert Reynolds and Durenda [Reynolds] Bley, both friends of ours.
We did not know Del and Durenda's father much, but we went for their sakes and the family's.
The funeral was in Monte Vista, about four and a half hours away.
The Reynolds family used to attend our church here in the Springs about 15 years ago, and then later moved back down to home territory near Monte Vista. We've stopped in to see them a few times through the years, and Jonathan had just met up with Del back in October after a hunting trip when Jonathan and children were in the area.
We know what it is like to not have much fellowship out west here, and have tried to get together a few times.
Some years back, Del helped Jonathan out on at least two Mission Helps trips with his welding skills, and now that he is not involved in the care of his father, he may be able to volunteer again in that way.
Del's father was about 87 years old. He had spent his life involved in various businesses, including a sanitation business, jiffy johns, and storage units. He grew Christmas trees and sold them to many folk around, besides driving truck for son-in-law Lloyd Bley in Nebraska during harvest season.
One man present shared a memory of how Clifford would throw a dead skunk on a certain area of road to keep the DOT from setting up there! Apparently, it worked!
That brought the house down!
That brought the house down!
Another person told how after being injured in an accident, Clifford was on a stretcher, waiting to be placed into the ambulance when the ambulance driver heard the door close and thought the patient was inside.
Away the ambulance went, leaving the firemen scratching their heads and deciding to pick Clifford up and simply put him in the fire truck! That is how he got the ride of his life in a fire truck!
Clifford won championships as a fruit picker, walking about on stilts several feet high, picking apples, peaches, apricots, and whatever other fruit is grown in the area.
It seemed that all who knew and spoke of him felt that Clifford was ready to go, and that was such a comfort.
While the family was visiting after the meal, I slipped into the sanctuary and got this photo of the picture of Clifford with the cross behind it, as well as the word "Welcome" under the wreath just below the cross.
I thought it was special.
Because of the cross, a sinner saved by grace was welcomed home.
Lloyd Bley, Clifford's son-in-law, shared how one time Clifford was running a backhoe that was getting stuck in a bog. Clifford had a hoe with him and reached about in the bog with it
for something to grab to get steadied and get out of there.
After several tries with no success, Clifford finally grabbed what he assumed was a rock with that hoe, and was able to get out.
In like manner, he and all we sinners caught in the bog and mire of our hopelessness and sins,
reach out for something to save us--
and we get hold of a Rock.
A Rock that saves, a Rock that holds.
Here are Durenda and Del, the son and daughter of Clifford.
In the time opened for sharing memories, more than one person shared about Clifford's love and faithful care for his wife, who in turn ended up being caretaker for him in the last while.
I loved this figure of Joseph and Mary and baby Jesus, as we thought about caring for one another.
I loved this figure of Joseph and Mary and baby Jesus, as we thought about caring for one another.
Del's twin uncles, Merle and Earl, sang, "Zion's Hill," after sharing how Clifford came back to the Lord after hearing this song sung at the funeral of his young nephew who had died in an accident.
"Clifford wasn't doing right at that time," his brother remembered, but after this song and the funeral of nephew Isaac, Clifford was invited to pray right there after the funeral service.
He prayed and got right with God again right there.
"Now I shall go to dwell on Zion's hill."
The six strapping grandsons each wore one of their grandfather's shirts as a silent tribute
in their role of being honorary pall bearers. So interesting, I thought!
The preacher of the occasion shared the gospel message, inviting any who weren't right with God
to get right.
In these moments, as we think about how one in our midst only just days ago made the crossing,
fighting for breath, and then looking up, the nurses said, and "seeing God's hand reaching down for him," passed quietly away,
our own faith or lack thereof comes into clearer view.
As the pastor of the church shared the gospel, I have to say that gospel was made fresh to me in a very real way.
He shared how in John 10, Christ explained to His disciples that those who were His sheep would never perish, nor could anyone take them out of His hand.
In John 11, Christ weeps with the grieving, and raises the dead.
In John 12, Jesus' feet were anointed, and in John 13, Jesus washed His disciples' feet.
In John 14, Jesus makes the claim that no other can make: "I am the way."
I sat there weeping tears, renewing my faith in Christ, and making sure I was trusting Him and not my own works. Maybe others never need to renew their commitment and their trust, but over and over, I find that I need these times of refreshing, and being reminded of what the gospel means to me personally.
As Del held the door for us as we entered the church, he made sure Jonathan knew we were invited to stay to the family meal.
"You've been the brother I never had," he said huskily, hugging him hard.
Here is the extended Reynolds clan.
Jonathan helped snap pictures.
I like to get pictures of the people taking pictures!
That is Brenda Reynolds' brother, Mr. Wiseman, in the center of the picture. His son was also there.
A better picture from Jonathan's camera.
"What a legacy!" one of the onlookers kept exclaiming.
The Reynolds' side of the family, with sons Ben, Reuben, Joe, Drew and Josh, and daughter Alyssa,
with most of the spouses and children.
Clifford's brothers with Durenda and Del and Grandmother Reynolds, wife of the deceased.
The Bley side of the clan with Christopher and Kendra and family,
and Christina and her husband and family.
The cousins with their grandmother.
The urn was a beautiful mountain scene.
The urn was a beautiful mountain scene.
All the grandchildren and great grandchildren.
It meant so much to us when Del told Jonathan that the family wanted us to stay to the family meal.
Jonathan and I were so glad we went.
This is a precious family.
While Jonathan visited with Del, I slipped quietly around the beautiful sanctuary and other halls.
Here is the Bible open to the Sermon on the Mount.
On the way home, the snowy mountains and fields were beautiful.
I helped drive part of the time there and back so Jonathan could be on the phone or computer with his work.
"I will lift up mine eyes to the hills, from whence cometh my help.
My help cometh from the Lord, Who made heaven and earth."
