Chapter Sixteen
Treasures In Heaven
by
Jerri Tuck
"For where your treasure is
there will your heart be also."
Matthew 6:21
I had held him under my heart for nine months. Now I
was watching him through the nursery window. Up
and down....up and down.... They had placed him on a moving apparatus that
looked like a miniature see-saw. After 43 hours of hard labor, I had given
birth to this beautiful child. He looked perfect in every way.
"God, please let him live."
Exhausted from the long labor and difficult delivery, I had fallen into a deep sleep, only to be awakened by the doctor's disturbing words, "We don't think your baby is going to make it." They wheeled me down to the nursery to see him for the last time.
Twelve hours later my baby was in the presence of Jesus. The official cause of death was a deformed heart valve. Back in the fifties, heart surgery for one that young was uncommon. I was told it was better for him to die than to wind up being an invalid. That was small consolation to my grief stricken heart.
Oh, the pain of returning to the nursery we had so lovingly decorated. As I sat down in the rocking chair, my arms empty, I cried out, "Why, Lord?"
At any age it's hard to find solace in losing your first child, but at eighteen I was devastated. I had only known the Lord as my personal Savior for a year, and this burden seemed much too hard to bear. However, as time passed, the pain eased. I knew I had a treasure in heaven. Someday I would see little David again. How precious God's word was to me during the healing process.
Life goes on.
One night, many years later, I was to learn again that God's comfort to me, would ultimately bring peace and salvation to another troubled heart.
"Honey, that was Nancy on the phone. She sounded pretty upset, and she's coming over to see me." It was after 10 p.m., and Charlie figured it was going to be a late night session. So after kissing me good night, he headed for bed.
Waiting for Nancy to arrive, my mind quickly wandered back to the first time I met her. I had stopped at a small convenience store near town. While paying my bill, I noticed a thin woman walking into the store. Her hair was disheveled and her face pale and drawn.
"Are you okay?" I asked.
It seemed this woman had more than a plateful. Alone, except for three children, one of whom was seven year old Nancy, she was facing major surgery. With no one to take care of her children, she was in the throes of despair. You guessed it! For a week Nancy, along with her younger brother and older sister, became a part of the Tuck family.
Things were tough for Yvonne and her children. Through the years one trial after another plagued them. Nancy's brother, a pre-schooler, darted into the street and was struck by an automobile. As a result of his injuries, he required constant attention. Adding to the stress were the never ending bills. Nancy felt lost in the shuffle.
Nancy got married and left home in her early teens. She and Gary had one child. They were maturing together and doing well. I was proud of them. A few months earlier I had sold them a quaint farmhouse in the country, and now they were expecting their second child. It seemed everything was going their way. Although I hadn't seen her in several months, I wondered what she could possibly want at this hour of night.
Sitting across the dining room table from me, Nancy poured out her heart. For a week she had felt something was wrong with her baby. There was no movement. The doctor confirmed her worst fears. The baby was dead. Putting my arm around her, I told her the story of David. She had no idea that I had lost my firstborn. Somehow just knowing that someone has been through the same thing brings a great deal of comfort. "There were a lot of babies that died that month Nancy," I told her. "We were very poor then and the county buried my baby. Since I was ill and too poor to have a funeral for David, I later went to the cemetery to find where they buried him. They had put markers on the graves, intending to replace them with little brass name plates at a future date. There must have been thirty graves.
"I looked everywhere. Nothing. One of the paper
markers had been torn off the wooden stake. Somehow I knew that was David's
resting place."
The Lord spoke to my heart and said, "You don't have to come back. He's not here anymore. He's with me now. You have a treasure in heaven so keep your heart there."
"Nancy," I continued softly, "Your little Joseph is in heaven with Jesus now. He can't come to you...but you can go to him if you're saved. Do you have Jesus in your heart?"
She dried her eyes and responded, "Sure. I've been saved about fifteen times."
Nancy had gone to the altar many times. Different preachers had prayed for her, but she had never actually prayed for herself. After carefully explaining the way of salvation, I asked her if she would like to ask Jesus into her heart. "I'm not ready yet," she answered.
After assuring her I would keep her and her family in my prayers, Nancy left the house. Although Nancy received a degree of comfort that night, I knew that only the Lord himself could fully meet her need.
Charlie and I prayed.
Several weeks went by, and I couldn't get Nancy and Gary off of my mind and heart. Then, one Sunday afternoon the burden would not lift, and so I went to their home. Immediately, the conversation centered around the Lord. They both listened intently to what I was saying. Suddenly, interrupting me, Nancy spoke up with boldness, "Miss Jerri, I think I want to be saved today!"
I looked at her husband. "How about you, Gary? Would you like to be saved too?"
Looking rather uncomfortable, being put on the spot, he answered, "I don't think I'm ready just yet."
"That's okay," I smiled. "We'll just
hold hands, and Nancy can get saved. When you're ready, you can be saved
too!" Standing in a little circle, holding hands, we lifted our hearts to
heaven, and Nancy found the peace and joy she had been seeking.
What a change.....for both of them. Although Gary didn't get saved right away, he started going to church with Nancy. He began seeing answers to his wife's prayers, and before long he knew that God was real.
Several months had gone by when, at the close of a Sunday morning service, the Lord was moving in a very sweet way. As the pastor extended the invitation to come forward for salvation, the Lord quietly spoke three little words to my heart. "Go get him."
Without hesitation, I left my seat, walked toward the rear of the church and up the left aisle. Putting my arm around Gary, I whispered, "Don't you think it's about time you got saved? I'll walk down to the altar with you."
Gary turned and looked at me and simply nodded, "Yes".
Together we went up front, and another soul was born
into the kingdom of God! No one had to lead Gary in a sinner's prayer. His
heart was ready! It's been four years since this all took place. I've watched
Gary and Nancy grow in their Christian walk. They've displayed a lot of
courage and initiative. For a while they owned a Christian bookstore which was
a blessing to many. They've worked hard in the church. Sometimes they've
stumbled. (Who hasn't?) But they know who the answer is. They've met the
Comforter. The Lord soon blessed them with another son. Not to replace Joseph,
but to give them another treasure, one they can enjoy on earth.
Soon, Gary and Nancy will be moving from Cochran to pursue new aspirations and goals. God is going with them, and I firmly believe He has His hand on their lives. I'll be keeping in touch with them. As they walk with the Lord, I know I'll be hearing good reports. Now that they know Christ, no matter what trial they face, while they're looking to Him, they'll make it through.
Friend, when my son David was born on September 12, 1958, I never dreamed to what extent the blessed Comforter would go in flowing through me to others. Yes, He comforts us that we in turn may comfort others.
Now, before I close this chapter in my life, I need to share one more blessing with you. Just as God gave Nancy and Gary another treasure to love, He likewise gave a son to me in an unusual way. On September 12, 1991, when David would have turned thirty-three years old, our daughter Sandy married Gene. (See "All in the Family") He was thirty-three years old and has truly been a son in every way!
Who can possibly figure out the ways of our God? He is leading and guiding our footsteps, even if tragedy comes, and it might. He will receive honor and glory from it if we but let Him have His way.
Prayer for Today
Dear Lord,
Thank you for my treasures in heaven…and on earth. I know there are others, Lord, who don’t have this knowledge and assurance. They’ve lost little ones like Joseph and David. They feel so bitter, angry, and hurt. Help me reach out with your love and bring comfort to them today, Lord. And, Father, if they don’t know you in a real, personal way, help me in leading them into your comforting arms.
In Jesus name,
Amen
Jerri Tuck –
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