Yesterday, my friend Chester Jenkins was buried. He was a fixture in our life for 40+ years. I mostly remember him as an elder in our church. He was a patient and gracious man. I know because I tried his patience and graciousness in my younger years. He was the leader on whom I vented my frustrations with our church. He always listened and heard what I had to say. He was firm in his beliefs but open to understanding. In looking back, I wouldn’t have put up with me if I had been Chester.
I had the opportunity to serve with him as an elder for a short while and I gained a deeper appreciation for him as we mutually shared some of the burdens that I had placed on him in previous years. I know that his passion for the church and deep sense of responsibility weighed heavily upon him and took its toll on him over the years. He was an honorable man and I am a better person for having known him. His wife Margaret is also a dear friend and I pray for her comfort and life in Chester’s absence.
Thank you God for fellow travelers that lift us up and encourage us on our journey.