Page 12 - Senior Times South Central Michigan October 2022 - 29-10

Page 12
Senior Times - October 2022 Faith
Stacey Lott
MATTERS
Rev. Dr. James Gysel, Special to Senior Times
Attorney at Law
DARKNESS
Estate Planning & Elder Law
“When Jesus saw the crowds, he had compassion on them because they were confused and helpless, like sheep with- out a shepherd.”
269.963.8222
130 East Columbia Avenue Battle Creek, MI 49015
www.staceylottlaw.com
Tate C. Goodwin, Director / Manager
Lighthouse Funeral & Cremation Services, LLC
1276 Tate Trail, Union City, MI 49094
517-741-4555
WWwwWw.L.IlGigHhTtHhOoUusSeEFfuUnNeErRaAl.Lc.oCmOM
“Guiding You In Your Time Of Need”
Serving all of South Central Michigan
Bright, modern facilities in Athens, Union City & Tekonsha
One fall season she faithfully start- ed coming to the downtown church where I served as one of the pastors. She started coming because of the free hot lunch on Thursdays. She looked
to have lived a hard life and was in
her late 60’s - usually smelling funky, had a gruff voice that reflected years
of smoking or drinking or both. She wore what appeared to be used clothing and always had a bag... filled with lots of stuff in other bags. But she wore a smile and was willing to help.
I had great compassion for her predic- ament and was thankful to be part of a community of faith where she felt com- fortable enough to come to church to be fed literally and spiritually. Those of us on the staff would see her there often, not just on Thursdays and Sundays, asking if she could help out in some way. She was a welcome sight.
• Up-To-Date Technology • On-Site Banquet Space • Handicap Accessible
• In-Home Pre-Planning Appts. • FREE Transfer of Pre-Plans
• Monuments & Pet Cremation
But, she went on to share how miraculously, somehow she was able to break free of the alcohol, but she never could quite get the other parts of her life together. Now at 60+, she was alone with no family, no husband, no children, on food stamps and welfare.
What motivates you to reach out in compassion for someone else? Usually all you have to do is smile, open your eyes, put down your guard, and open your heart for a minute to someone else. It can be done anywhere at any time. And when you do this, you’re doing the work that God put you on earth to do.
COMPETITIVE PRICING – Plus our new 6 MONTHS SAME AS CASH financing in case of no life insurance or limited funds. Visit our website today to see if you qualify.
SOUTH CENTRAL MICHIGAN TM
SENIOR TIMES INFORMATION:
Publisher & Executive Editor: Sherii Sherban; Advertising Consultants: Pat Fosdick, Keith Sherban; Marketing / Administrative Asst: Christyn McCleary; Staff Photographer / Artist: Keith Sherban; Artist: Frederick DeRuiter; Publisher Emeritus: Richard DeRuiter
Senior Times of South Central Michigan is published twelve times per year by Scene Publications ST, LLC. Senior Times is distributed free through our advertisers, area professional offices, and key points of interest throughout South Central Michigan. To be added to the distribution list contact Keith Sherban at ext. 3.
~ Faithfully yours, Jim Gysel
Opinions expressed by writers in Senior Times are their own and do not necessarily reflect the
opinion or policy of Senior Times or Scene Publications ST, LLC. All rights reserved. Reproduction without permission is prohibited.
Senior Times, PO Box 2257, Battle Creek MI 49016-2257. P- Administration: (269) 979-1479 ext. 1. Advertising (269) 979-1479 ext. 2. Email: ssherban@scenepub.com. Website - www.scenepub.com
WANT SENIOR TIMES SENT TO YOUR HOME?
SUBSCRIBE TODAY! GET YOURS IN THE MAIL!
NAME: ADDRESS: CITY: STATE: ZIP CODE:
ONE YEAR SUBSCRIPTION: $20
MAIL TO: Senior Times, PO Box 2257 Battle Creek, MI 49016 MAKE CHECKS PAYABLE TO: Senior Times
IMPLANTS $675
Eat Apples Again!
(No More Sticky Glue.)
Implants $ 675 Per Tooth (Does Not Include Crown)
Full Service Dentistry
WE CARE FOR ADULTS & CHILDREN
We Do Everything Dental Related (no referrals needed).
All Services Provided in a
PAINLESS Manner.
For patients needing dentures, or have poor fitting dentures, get implants and hold your dentures tightly in place.
RIGHT CHOICE DENTAL
475 E. Columbia Ave., Suite #5, Battle Creek, MI 49014 (Lower level)
(269) 968-9923 rightchoicedentalbattlecreek.com
She assisted with setting up the cof- fee and refreshments between services, which made some folks uncomfortable, but they soon got used to June’s pres- ence, even if she took some cookies home in her bag after church. One day she asked if she could talk with me about her life and I said, “Of course!” So she began to unpack the sad story of a little girl who was sexually abused by her father, which led to an alcohol dependency, which deadened the pain she was feeling. She talked about how she made money by working in bars, but also by selling her body. The story broke my heart.
And then one week she showed up at the church membership class. When
I asked folks in the group to share something about themselves to oth-
ers present, June proudly proclaimed that she was so glad to be joining the church and committing her life to God because, “She knew this church was her family.”
DR. WEST
I could tell she knew she was finally home, and our church family was a better place because of a woman named June.