Friday, February 13, 2009

I Will Miss My Friend

I used this picture about a year ago on my blog. It's a picture of my friend Dorothy Roduner. She was a very private person, and was hesitant to allow me to use her picture. If you go back and check past posts, you'll find her, but I didn't give her last name. I promised her I wouldn't.

Things have changed now. Dorothy is now with the Lord and I'm no longer concerned about her need for privacy. Since she's with the Lord, I don't need to worry that someone may steal her identity or any of a number of other things that might have concerned her a year ago. She is now safely in the arms of Jesus. The things of earth no longer matter to Dorothy.

I first met Dorothy in 1975, the summer I was accepted as a missionary with Baptist Mid-Missions. She was the administrative assistant to the mission president at that time. She was an administrative assistant par excellence. I've never known anyone who was better or faster at taking shorthand. And her hands flew over the typewriter and later the computer keyboard like those of a concert pianist! She stayed at the task until it was done. She exuded self-discipline and professionalism. And she loved the Lord! In fact, I think it would be safe to say that she was passionate about Him. She also loved helping the men at the mission fulfill their tasks to the best of their abilities.

So you can imagine my delight when, following her retirement from Baptist Mid-Missions, she accepted my invitation to help me research the history of Bibles International. She was elated that I had asked her to help. Unfortunately, she had only two occasions on which to help me. She drove up to Grand Rapids from the Cleveland, Ohio area. Each time she stayed for more than a week. And she truly enjoyed the work.

We had planned for her to return last May, to stay two more weeks to help me. It was a great disappointment for both of us when she called to tell me that she would not be able to make that visit because of some health issues and unanswered questions regarding medical tests. She assured me that she would be happy to come as soon as those things were taken care of. They were cared for in a very definitive way on February 4, 2009, when she was ushered into the Lord's presence. She never made it back to Bibles International for that much anticipated visit.

I'm so thankful that Dorothy is now enjoying heaven's glories. I would not want her to return in a body that was so wracked by pain and disease. But until I see her again, I will miss my friend.
Posted by Picasa

4 comments:

Larry and Sallie Fogle said...

Very well written. Could she not be nominated for the BMM service award? She was as much a missionary as any of us.

Elaine said...

Good idea!

Elaine

Anonymous said...

I am sorry for you to lose your friend. The good thing is that she is in Heaven now.

Happy Valentine's Day, by the way.

Caroline
P.S. I just found the picture of the cake online, and then I went on a program called Paint.net and wrote your name on it.

Anonymous said...

I am sorry about the loss of Dorothy, too. She sounds like a wonderful lady!