Last week I received a note in the mail with handwriting I hadn’t seen for quite a while but recognized immediately. It was the strong script of Pastor George Sweeting, the man who married Nate and I in 1969. He was the head pastor at Moody Church then, and we were delighted he was available to perform our ceremony.
As we met with him privately in the days before the wedding, Pastor Sweeting told us he felt invested in the couples he married and offered to be available to us indefinitely through the years of our marriage, should we need him in any way. Although he eventually left the church to become the president of Moody Bible Institute, he kept in touch with us and occasionally reminded us of his offer.
About a month ago, 41 years after he married us, I bumped into Pastor Sweeting and his wife Hilda at a funeral, and we exchanged hugs and had a quick conversation. His letter followed that meeting and means a great deal to me.
This is a man who has spent a lifetime teaching and preaching the truth of Jesus Christ with indomitable optimism and joy. His letter was filled with encouragement not to “lose heart” in my walk through widowhood, and he cited four Scriptures urging me not to get discouraged or give up, two of them from Nate’s favorite biblical chapter, Hebrews 12. When we grow weary and don’t feel like fighting our battles anymore, whether they’re struggles with sorrow or loneliness or the difficult tasks of the day, the Bible tells us to examine the life of Jesus “so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.”
Jesus didn’t have an easy life in any category, yet according to Scripture he never lost heart, gave up or walked off the job. He remained focused on his mission, difficult as it was, all the way to the excruciating end. God offers to equip us to do the same.
Where Nate lives today, not one soul is discouraged, because the temptation to lose heart has no place in heaven. Rather his life is overflowing with joy beyond words as he lives with Christ among a crowd of other contented believers. Although Nate sometimes lost heart in his earthly life, all of that is but a dim, powerless memory for him now, if even that. And the same happy destiny awaits all of us who align with Jesus.
Although Pastor Sweeting helped Nate and I “tie the knot” that death has now untied, he’s still making good on his promise to help us by encouraging me not to lose heart.
“We know that the one who raised the Lord Jesus from the dead will also raise us with Jesus… Therefore we do not lose heart…” (2 Corinthians 4:14a,16a)
He is such a dear loving man. We have had him in our home and he communicates love and a gracious spirit as well as being a godly man. How delightful that he married you and Nate and was your pastor. Lots of loving supportive people were and are in your life, Margaret. Certainly gifts from the Lord.
Bruce preached a funeral message Saturday that was so uplifting and focused on the verse Psalm 116:15 “Precious in the sight is the death of His saints.” His last point was the joy and excitement of our Lord to have us come home to Him. Now there is nothing in the way of perfect fellowship with Him, He can be with Nate and our friend Melvina – face to face – from His perspective!!! How delightful it is to think of His joy in our coming home.
Each of my babies were Dedicated to the Lord, by Pastor Sweeting, at Moody Church, many years ago. Now, many years later, Dan and his family were visiting Shannon’s parents’ home church, in OH. The Interim Pastor was Dr. Sweeting. Dan showed Pastor Sweeting his then 41 year old Baby Dedication Certificate, with Pastor’s signature. How fortunate Dan was to meet this wonderful man, many years later. They had their picture taken, together.
Beautiful.