"Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs
is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are they that mourn: for they
shall be comforted. Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit
the earth. Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness:
for they shall be filled. Blessed are the merciful: for they shall
obtain mercy. Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see
God." (Matthew 5:3-8)
Today's article is different than any I have ever
written. Our focus today is on a person rather than an event,
subject, or Scripture. Such individual focus is occasionally justified,
especially as a tool to teach us better living through example.
I believe the one to whom I refer has much to teach the world
in general and me in particular. I refer to Mindy Wright, and
I admire her greatly.
Mindy probably has as many and as varied problems
as anyone I have ever known. Her years of infirmity have taken
a toll which has at once aged her body and kept her child-like;
but she does not complain. Attendance in worship is a difficult
physical challenge for Mindy, but, if she is absent, we know it
is a problem beyond those she deals with continually. Moreover,
it is clear that being in worship service is her great joy.
Most thrilling of all is Mindy's love of and hard
work at studying her Bible. Mindy (with some help from her dad)
always has her Bible class lesson studied and prepared. Perhaps
she does not "get" all the points, but she certainly
gets all she can. Mindy may not have all the tools that others
have, but her dedication is unmatched.
Because of the pace, there is no way Mindy can
keep up with a sermon, certainly not to read all the scriptures
with the preacher. Mindy's remedy is to listen carefully, make
notes of all the scripture references in her own handwriting,
look them up later in the day, and meticulously read each one!
The sermon which lasts forty minutes for you and me may last one
hour and a half or more for Mindy. This is a love for God, and
it comes from the heart of one who has been dealt harsher blows
in life than I can conceive. This is a love for the Bible, and
it comes from one who learns the Bible only with great effort.
Most people would not trade lives with Mindy for
anything, given the great hardships she has endured. However,
those same folks would probably give anything to be as prepared
as she is on the day of judgment. I wonder, with all the abilities
of our members, what kind of congregation would this be if everyone
had a heart like Mindy Wright? -Taken from the April 23, 2000
bulletin of the Dewey Avenue Church of Christ, 701 Dewey Avenue,
St. Marys, WV 26170.
(Editor's Note: Mindy's father, Charles, writes,
"We have doctored (Melinda) there (Johns Hopkins Hospital)
for thirty-five years and she has been a blessing to our family,
even with the great responsibilities having been placed on my
wife caring for her as a special child. Mindy is now thirty-nine
years old and has improved quite a lot in the last three or four
years. The doctors said it would take five to seven years ...
for her to pick up on thought processing. We thank God she is
doing very well for all she has been through. Melinda now helps
the teachers in the children's classes Sunday morning and Wednesday
evening services. Thank God they are so kind to her and she continues
to learn also." Their address is: Charles, Martha, and Melinda
Wright, 909 4th St., St. Marys, WV 26170-1101.)