Today is Monday, October 23rd, 2017; Karen's Korner #3671

For the past number of years, I have taught an adult Sunday School class at our church. The dozen plus participants who attend on any given Sunday have an age span of sixty years.

Our oldest class member:  Herb Billman passed away this last weekend. He would have been 98 in January.

What an inspiration he was to all of us! He was seriously wounded in World War II in Italy which could have cost him his life. Instead it left him with some limited use of his right hand.........for years!

And then he lived!

Married. Two daughters. Worked for years as a livestock feed salesman. Very well liked and respected. Always thankful for the life God had given him, even after he lost his wife a number of years ago.

As a retired person, he spent a lot of time riding his bike and picking up cans and bottles for miles both directions from his home; turning them in for $$ and giving the funds to our church's Bible Bowl team to offset some of their travel and competition expenses. The bike turned into using his pickup as he grew older.

Herb was someone we could always count on to 'be there' for Sunday School and worship services. Even when it was too cold; maybe slippery or snowy! His saying, "If God can give me 24 hours a day, seven days a week, the least I can do is give Him back two hours a week!"

It was later this spring when he stopped attending Sunday services. Too hard for him to get around, and as he told his daughters, "I can't hear any more either, so what is the point of going."

So we celebrate Herb's life for the next couple of days with his funeral home visitation and funeral the next day.

HIs life makes me think of this Bible verse:

"But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength.

They shall mount up with wings like eagles;

they shall run and not be weary,

they shall walk and not faint."

~ Isaiah 40:31 LAB

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