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“As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another.” Proverbs 27:17  

If I asked you to name a strong spiritual mentor in your life, who would come to mind? Would it be a parent, grandparent, pastor, etc.? For me, God has blessed me with numerous Godly influences, and one precious lady was a congregational member named Ruth.

I first met Ruth when I arrived at St. Matthew in 1986. At that time, I was called to teach twenty-seven first grade students with no aide, and God in His divine wisdom brought me Ruth to serve as a classroom volunteer. Ruth was always drawn to those students who struggled the most. With patience, kindness, and gentle encouragement, she reflected Christ’s love to those little ones who needed it most.

Ruth’s care extended beyond the classroom and into my own private life as well. When my daughter was born with a serious heart condition that required immediate surgery, Ruth traveled all the way down to Detroit to Children’s Hospital to sit with Ken and me in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, offering her presence, her prayers, and her calm reassurance. And when the time came for us to bring my daughter home from the hospital, Ruth shared her nursing experience with us and would come to our house after my newborn daughter was released from the hospital to help change her surgical dressings while calming my anxious momma’s heart in the process.

All of Ruth’s grandchildren attended St. Matthew Lutheran School; getting to know her family so well was such a blessing. Their family has such a strong and loving bond; Ruth’s and her husband’s faith in Jesus was the glue. I would always joke with her that if she was ever going to take applications for another daughter, I wanted to apply!

Ruth would frequently ask for updates on my children and ask how she could pray for them. She would also tell me that she prayed for our school and our students every day. I am confident that our school ministry was blessed in tremendous ways by this faithful prayer warrior!

In her later years, Ruth often spoke with peaceful confidence about being ready to go home to be with Jesus and to be reunited with one of her children and husband, who were already in Heaven. This was not spoken with fear, but with the quiet assurance of one who trusted fully in the promise of eternal life through faith in Jesus.

Last week, God answered that prayer; Ruth is now experiencing the joy and peace of Heaven, after, I am sure, being greeted with the words, “Well done thou good and faithful servant!”

After reuniting with Ruth’s grandchildren at the funeral home and listening to their stories of their grandmother’s Godly influence in their lives, I drove home praying that the Lord would help me be more like Ruth and also help me make this same spiritual and eternal impact on my own grandchildren.

We thank and praise God for the spiritual mentors that He blesses each of us with. If you are fortunate enough to have the opportunity, take time to tell them “Thank You” for the impact that they have made on your spiritual journey!

In Jesus’ Love,

Mrs. Palka