Strength For the Journey-Part 2 Gratefulness Is A Key

August 28, 2019-As I reflect today on the goodness of God, my mind goes back to one month ago today on July 28 when I said goodbye to the love of my life, my dear sweet Ellison. It’s hard to believe one month has passed since that day, and in other ways it seems like an eternity, for truly when our hearts are separated here on earth, and one steps across the threshold of eternity, it is a separation we know only lasts until we are once again united in the presence of God, but the pain of that separation is one only God can heal.

As family and friends gathered that day on the 31st day of July to Celebrate the life of our loved one, tears flowed freely, as we all felt the pain of saying goodbye to one who it seemed had left us too early. One who’s life seemed snuffed out when there was so much more we wanted to share. But knowing God’s ways are not our ways, we rejoice in the great hope and consolation we have knowing our departed loved one was no longer suffering from the pain and difficulty he had struggled with for months. Safe in the arms of His Savior who he loved so much. We holding on to the promise in God’s Word, “To be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord” 2 Corinthians 5:8

Life is like a vapor, On the side where you remain

Forever is where time goes on, Filled with joyful, timeless days.

I am quite alive you see, And waiting here for you

So please live your life with joy and love, Until you are timeless too.

We will laugh again together, When life will have no end

No, this is not goodbye at all, It is I will see you then…

As we all gathered at the funeral home that morning in preparation for going to the church for the funeral, God’s presence and sweetness was there among us in a special way. The line of cars formed and we all filed along on our way to the church. As we entered the church, my heart was flooded with emotion as it was in this same church only 7 short months before, where there at the altar, my love and I had pledged our lives and love to each other until “death do us part” having no idea we would part so soon. But once again I must say God’s ways are not our ways. He sees our end from the beginning. HE orders our path.

As Brother Lee began to share the message, he so perfectly represented the life of Ellison, one who lived his life for others. Also honoring Ellison’s request that a call to Salvation be preached at his funeral. The singing was beautiful too.

If you only knew–https://youtu.be/DR25U2hq7QM

This is just what Heaven means to me-https://youtu.be/5QR6j2A_zuI

Then…My Letter to My Love- Read by my sweet friend, Cindy Pitts

-A Letter to my Dear Love Ellison-

I remember that warm summer night in July of 2018, just one short year ago, when just before retiring to bed after a long day, I checked my Match.com account to find a message from one called Ellison. Different name, I thought to myself, but I proceeded to read the message you wrote to me, and it was easy to see you had put a lot of thought into your message unlike others who had messaged me. The one thing attracting you to my profile was one line I had written about having a daily relationship with God.

Messaging back and forth for the following few days was exciting as my excitement was building for the time when you might ask me out. Then it happened on that Tuesday afternoon when you asked me if we could meet the next morning for breakfast, so we could see if perhaps this might be God leading us into a relationship. I will never forget when I drove up to IHOP that morning, and a big white truck with a cow on one side and a rooster on the other, was sitting there and down from the truck came this tall guy dressed in shorts, a tee-shirt and work boots. You had been hauling pullets all night you said. Ok, I thought in my mind, mentally scratching my head. So we went into IHOP and the waiter promptly gave us our nook where the conversation flowed easily as the hours went by, and the poor waiter kept coming and asking if he could get us something else over and over, not realizing we just weren’t going to leave til we were ready. So about 2 ½ hrs into our conversation, you cleared your throat and said, I have something I need to tell you, I have cancer…..I cannot tell you Love the pit I felt in my stomach. I felt bad. I knew you could tell.

I left there that day thinking I would never see you again, but God in his sovereign way as only he can knew the story would not end there. He convicted my heart showing me that I was limiting his ability to handle a situation that seemed hopeless, and that would lead to certain heartbreak one day. I must say I missed you. So I remember messaging you and telling you God had changed my heart and I was willing to be friends and see where God would lead. That’s so funny because you know Love how long that lasted. It didn’t take me long to see God had made a Match on Match.com. I didn’t see you as a man with a disease, but rather as a gift God had sent into my life.

As the months proceeded we had such a sweet bond that grew and that September day when you got down on one knee and asked me to be your wife was one of the happiest days of my life. I thought to myself I never realized I could be that happy. It was like my very own fairy tale. The days that followed were full of excitement as we prepared for that special day when we would come before God, our family and many friends and pledge our lives and love to each other til death do us part.

That December day dawned with rain in the forecast, and boy did it ever rain. But no rain could dampen our spirits as we excitedly prepared for the ceremony. Oh yes, one small detail, your shirt. How could I forget your shirt. But it went off without a hitch, and hitched we were. The Honeymoon was awesome, and we were right into Christmas, and then the New Year dawned. With the cold days of winter came a Doctors appointment, with the follow up appointment, and I will never forget how it felt when the Dr. said those words, there are some concerns with your blood work. The options were few, and so you were determined we would go to our scheduled Honeymoon Part2 in Florida. Such a precious time we shared that week, oblivious to the dark days that would follow. I want to remember the beautiful times we had Love, but also Never forget how valiantly you fought the disease that would lay claim to your life. As you lost our voice you cried that day as you told me you felt bad that I was trapped in this situation. I remember we tried to be positive and trusted God through many dark days when hope seemed to laugh in our faces. God gave us precious times together as you lay in your hospital bed and those times I will never forget. Friends gathered round your bed and we were there to cheer you on into that eternal bliss with your sweet Jesus. My heart is left broken and with a huge hole in it as we are parted for a while. I am here today Love, exactly one year after I met you that morning at IHOP, gathered with many whose lives you touched in some way, by your kindness and thoughtfulness, to celebrate your life that you poured out for others.  We miss you but we know you have finished your course, you have kept the faith, and now you have laid aside that earthly body for a brand new body that will never be susceptible to the ravages your earthly body suffered.

I loved you with all the love I had to give, and now I say so long until we meet inside the pearly gates at the feet of our Savior and Lord, Jesus Christ. Until then, From Your Love Marilyn

His Obituary-

Mr. William Ellison McAdams, age 55, of Carrollton, Georgia, passed away July 28, 2019 surrounded by family and friends. He was born September 2, 1963 in Cedartown, GA. He is preceded in death by his first wife, Linda Hudgins McAdams and his mother, Rebecca Smith McAdams. 

Ellison was a faithful member of New Canaan Baptist church in Buchanan, Ga. He served there as a Sunday School teacher and was loved by those he had the privilege of having in his class and will be greatly missed. His desire to learn more about the Word of God would often lead him into discussions, seeking to learn more about the ways of God. 

He was a faithful Husband, Dad and Paw Paw to his family working tirelessly to provide for them. His daughter and granddaughters held a very special place in his heart. He loved all his family so much and had a very close bond with his brothers. He was a loving son to his parents, always willing to help in any way he could. Nieces and nephews always brought a light to his eye. His love for his Lord was made evident through his caring for others, always giving without expecting anything in return. He was very loyal to those he loved, going the second mile to help in any way he could, even if it meant taking a loss himself. 

His hobbies included NASCAR racing “Go Ford!” College football “Go Dawgs” and loved watching the Braves play baseball. 

His passing has left a huge hole in the circle of family and friends which will be felt until we are reunited in Glory. He fought a good fight, he finished the course, and now is resting in the arms of his dear Savior the One he loved so much. 

He is survived by his wife, Marilyn Weaver McAdams, of Carrollton; father and step-mother, Sherman and Diane McAdams; step-daughter and son in law, Tiffany and Junior McAdams, of Buchanan; grandchildren, Shelby McAdams and Kayli Melson; brothers and sisters in law, Tony and Leslie McAdams, of Buchanan and Michael and Staci McAdams, of Bowdon; and half sister, Angel Cochran, of Dallas, GA. 

Funeral services will be held Wednesday, July 31, 2019 at 2:00PM at Providence Baptist Church with Rev. Aaron Johnson and Rev. Lee Patrick officiating. Special reading will be by Cindy Pitts. He will lie in state at the church from 1:00PM until the funeral hour. Chuck Wilson and Debra Collins will be providing music. Gentlemen serving as pallbearers will be Rodney Binnion, Jamie Hudgens, Johnny Huey, Brian Walker, Hunter McAdams, Reese McAdams, Matthew Yoder, and John Weaver. Interment will follow in New Canaan Baptist Church Cemetery. 

So you may ask my dear friends, what does gratefulness have to do with all this. as I have walked through this valley of deep sorrow, I have found the greatest comfort I experience is during times in which I CHOOSE to be grateful. A GRATEFUL HEART IS A HEART AT PEACE- My list of things I am grateful for, to name a few…

That I know because of the gift of Salvation through Jesus, there was a place prepared for Ellison…

For the assurance that he is no longer suffering in pain, or experiencing distress of any kind…

For the promise that I know I will see him again…

For the beautiful union God gave us, and all the sweet memories I have in my heart of our times together…

For all the beautiful people God has put in my life that have been so kind to me through this valley of sorrow.

For the promise that He will NEVER leave me nor forsake me…He will give me strength for the journey. For I am and will forever be His Faithful Servant.