O To Be Like Her

9 hours ago

2 min read

This year, "Lord willing,” we will have the teens over for the 14th annual Christmas party. I have always said that I wanted to do it for 21 years and then quit. That may sound like I am drawing a line in the sand, but the real reason is because Mrs. Opal did it for 20. (Of which I, as a youth, was blessed to be a part of.) I would often tell her that I was going to do it just one more than her. Today though, I am thinking we may stop at 20, so we can be just like Opal.

To know Opal was to love Opal. She was kind, witty, encouraging and boy did she love our youth. She not only opened her home, she opened up her heart. She was just like the apostle Paul described in Ephesians 3:17 - being rooted and grounded in love, because Christ dwelled in her heart through faith.

Later in her life, I would often ask Opal how she was, and even though many times she was struggling with her health, she would always say, "I'm O.K." O for Opal, K for Kepner. She then would turn the subject to us and not herself. I know the song says that sometimes we laugh together, sometimes we cry, but today I am, like you, feeling both. Sad because we will no longer share a laugh, a smile, communion or fellowship with Opal. Happy, because Opal is no longer just O.K., she is great - in a place of no struggle, no tears, no pain. She, through the grace of God, is raised up with Him and seated with Him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus.