Patient Endurance

The month of January pulls at my heart in painful ways. It hasn’t been very long since my grandparents passed – Nana just 2 years ago ( https://www.floydmortuary.com/obituaries/thelma-edge ) and Bill just 5 years ago ( https://www.floydmortuary.com/obituaries/billy-edge ).

They are so sweet and special to me that it does me some painful good to see their pictures and read back through their obituaries this time of year. And having a wife and friends who will “sit in the mud with me” during this time is such a blessing.

As my emotions rise and tears surprisingly stream down my cheeks, today’s verse on the YouVersion Bible app reminds me of my own weakness being an opportunity for the Holy Spirit to do His work:

‭Romans‬ ‭8:26‬ ‭NLT‬
[26] And the Holy Spirit helps us in our weakness. For example, we don’t know what God wants us to pray for. But the Holy Spirit prays for us with groanings that cannot be expressed in words.

https://bible.com/bible/116/rom.8.26.NLT

And I’m also encouraged by my broadcast from a year ago today on patiently enduring:

Whatever you are going through today, my friends — I’m grateful for the opportunity to sit in the mud together. In fact, I’m about to head out on a nature hike in the rain if you want to combine the analogy with the reality. Much love, hugs, tears, encouragement and prayers — for Him seeing us through it. Amen.

Thelma Edge

January 4, 1934 — January 18, 2022

Thelma Mae Brackins Edge, 88, wife of the late Billy Gene Edge, passed on Tuesday, January 18, 2022, at her home in Campobello. Born in Spartanburg County on January 4, 1934, a daughter of the late Edward Curtis and Alice Sprouse Brackins.

Mrs. Edge was a lifelong resident of Pacolet Mills until moving to Campobello in 2018. She was a 55 plus year member of Brown’s Chapel Baptist Church. She was involved in feeding the youth, volunteering in the nursery at church and socializing with Young at Heart. She enjoyed cooking for her family.

Survivors are a daughter, Jean Ballinger (Jim) of Spartanburg; siblings, Bertha Harrold of Central Pacolet and Betty Hutt of Union; and a grandson, Harold Ballinger (Mandee) and great granddaughter, Mia Ballinger of Campobello. Numerous nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by sisters, Ethel Morgan, Virginia Crawford, and Nancy Brock; a brother, Jimmy Brackins.

Visitation will be 1:00-3:00 PM, Monday, January 24, 2022, at Floyd’s Pacolet Chapel. Funeral Services will follow in the chapel at 3:00 PM. Burial will be in Pacolet Memorial Gardens.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Brown’s Chapel Baptist Church, P.O. Box 396, Pacolet Mills, SC, 29373.

Billy Edge

August 17, 1934 — January 26, 2019

Good Servant, Billy Gene Edge, 84, of Pacolet Mills, SC, went home to be with his Heavenly Father Saturday, January 26, 2019 at Spartanburg Regional Hospice Home.

Born August 17, 1934 in Cherokee County, SC, he was the son of the late Troy Webster and Bessie Norah Barner Edge. He was the husband of Thelma Brackins Edge for 67 years. Billy started his lifelong career as a carpenter with Fiske-Carter Construction Company for 40 years, then ending it with Roebuck Buildings Co. Inc.

He was a member of Brown’s Chapel Baptist Church where he was a Deacon, Sunday School teacher, and worked with the youth. He enjoyed gardening and woodworking. Survivors include his loving wife, Thelma Brackins Edge of the home; a daughter, Jean Ballinger (Jim) of Spartanburg, SC; a grandson, Harold Ballinger (Mandee) of Campobello, SC; a great granddaughter, Mia Ballinger; and sisters, Patra Ford (The Rev. Jerry Ford) of Union, SC and Pamela Easler of Spartanburg, SC; along with numerous nieces and nephews. He was also predeceased by his brothers, Roy Edge, Clyde Edge, and Hugh Edge.

Visitation will be at 6:00 – 8:00 PM Tuesday, January 29, 2019 at Floyd’s Pacolet Chapel, 141 Memorial Drive, Pacolet, SC 29372. Funeral service will be at 2:00 PM Wednesday, January 30, 2019, at Brown’s Chapel Baptist Church, 350 Green Street, Pacolet, SC 29373, conducted by The Rev. Ralph Jett and The Rev. Jerry Ford. Burial will follow in Pacolet Memorial Gardens, 141 Memorial Drive, Pacolet, SC 29372.

The family will be at the home of Harold and Mandee Ballinger.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Brown’s Chapel Baptist Church, P.O. Box 396, Pacolet Mills, SC 29373.

The family would like to give a thank you for the special care given by Spartanburg Regional Hospice Home.

Talking to, at, about, or “with God”

As a child, I fell into praying by just repeating what I saw people doing around me. Before we ate a meal, someone would listen to “the man of the house” as he would “say grace” for us. When we were in church, at the expected pauses or transitions on the church bulletin, we would bow our heads and listen to “the man behind the podium” as he would “pray” for us. When we went to bed, we might recite a known poem about God watching over us while we “lay me down to sleep”.

As I grew up, I found myself at crossroads in my life where instead of just tradition or ritual — I found myself in a position where I realized my own need and the needs of others that were beyond my ability — and that need that kind of “God if you really exist, and if you really care, we really need your help on this” kind of attention and touch daily.

What is really wonderful is that I didn’t need Him any less when I was a little child listening and reciting. And even when I get distracted as an adult and I’ve gotten too busy to care enough about being serious about prayer time — His door is still open every time that I open my eyes to realize the need and the value of time spent together with Him.

Sometimes I need a reminder that prayer isn’t about a ritual or tradition, and that it isn’t about an obligatory “did I say my prayers”. Sometimes I need a reminder about the things Jesus had to teach us about prayer. I need a reminder that prayer isn’t a perfect recitation but a pattern of recognizing some key things about ourselves and our need for regular communication with God — in order to stay healthy and avoid foolishness.

‭Matthew‬ ‭6:9‭-‬13‬ ‭NLT‬
[9] Pray like this: Our Father in heaven, may your name be kept holy. [10] May your Kingdom come soon. May your will be done on earth, as it is in heaven. [11] Give us today the food we need, [12] and forgive us our sins, as we have forgiven those who sin against us. [13] And don’t let us yield to temptation, but rescue us from the evil one.

https://bible.com/bible/116/mat.6.9.NLT

Lord God Almighty, you are creator of the Heavens and the Earth, your ways are far too high for me to fully comprehend — yet you have made a way for the unholy and the imperfect like me to seek you — and to even abide in you and walk with you. This is amazing the way that your Kingdom invades and overtakes the darkness through the example you have given us in Christ Jesus and by the ambassadors we are each called to be a your representatives walking through this land on our way back home to you. We want ourselves, and our brothers and sisters who are blind to various foolishness that falls short of what is best — to be healed and freed from traps that we’ve sometimes become too comfortable and familiar with in our lives. Teach us and lead us in what is best, disciplining us gently when necessary to keep us on the narrow path, so that your will can be seen clearly as the best path. Be our strength and our provider so that we can be a blessing to those around us and will give freely as you give to us. You are the example of ultimate forgiveness and love, so we are inspired and convicted to forgive and love even those our foolish pride might fight initial consider excluding — yet remind us that we have no forgiveness available to us if we do not see the depths of our own need or refuse to forgive others. Your Love overcomes and your Word guides us in Truth that will deliver us from foolishness into wisdom and that will reveal your victory in and through the testimony of our lives — proving that the time of foolishness, of wickedness, of oppression, of injustice, of atrocities, of wars, and of all evil is coming to an end. Amen.