FIRST, CURRENT, LAST, & FAVORITE
One of my most prized possessions is a short note written on a 2X2 inch sticky note that sits permanently on the desk in my office. For a number of years, in fact the last several years of his life, one of the highlights of my life was a weekly phone conversation with brother Hugo McCord. We would always talk about our families for a few minutes, then we would talk about the church, and finally we would talk about some Greek words that were going to be a part of the sermon or Bible class for that particular week. Each time we talked, brother McCord would speak “off the cuff,” about a word, a concept, or a passage of Scripture. He never had to run get his Bible or pull out some notes, he just spoke. I would be feverishly taking notes on what he was saying, and occasionally would have to ask him to repeat something or ask him if he minded slowing down just a bit. He always inspired me to want to be a better student of the Word.
Now, back to the sticky note. Brother McCord sent to me a large bundle of articles (hundreds of them) that he had written through the years. The articles were wrapped in a rubber band and underneath the rubber band was the note that sits on my desk to this day. It was written in brother McCord’s handwriting and it reads, “Lois is mentioned on pages 8-9. She is my first, current, last, and favorite wife. Just as Laura is to Jeff!” It is signed simply, “H Mc.” Brother Hugo loved sister Lois. Their marriage stands as a model for every Christian marriage.
Brother Wayne Jackson wrote the following words about them several years ago. “Lois McCord was a sweet Christian lady whose presence blessed so many over the eighty-nine years of her life. When Lois was a young girl she went to Henderson, Tennessee to attend Freed-Hardeman College. When someone accused her of going there just to marry a preacher, she exclaimed: ‘I’ll never marry a preacher.’ Years later, a friend, poking fun at Hugo, told her she remained faithful to her pledge.
Lois taught ladies’ classes for many years, she wrote articles, and she influenced so many in numerous ways, not the least of which was the invaluable assistance she rendered to Hugo’s helper in the Gospel. In her declining days, Lois developed Alzheimer’s disease... It was said, by those who had occasion to be with her, that she was ever cheerful. One person went to see Lois, to ‘cheer her up,’ and commented that she ended up being the one encouraged! But something happened in sister McCord’s mind that was quite telling. She reached a point when she thought every day was Sunday. She was prepared to worship--no matter what day of the week it was.”
This is the kind of couple that we should recognize as role models in our society. Like many of you, we have known many others who have exemplified the Biblical teaching on marriage. Whether it’s the elder who got his wife dressed every day for many years because she had lost both arms (he would cook her breakfast, put her make-up on, and bring her to church every Sunday), the preacher who stood faithfully by his wife and did just about everything for her for seven years when she was struck with Alzheimer’s, or the sister who watched her husband die a slow painful death from cancer. These exemplary couples are a far cry from most of the families we see on television!
These are just a few of the many that come to my mind as I think about Christian couples who should be held up as role models for young families. Perhaps you would like to share with our readers an inspiring story about a Christian couple that would encourage all of us to be faithful to our mates.
Dear God, thank You so much for creating the family. Thank You, Father for couples such as Hugo & Lois McCord who faithfully exemplified for many years what it means to love, as well as serve one another. Thank You for so many other wonderful couples who continue to show us the way today. Father, help all of us to work on maintaining the kind of home that models the Biblical meaning of marriage. Please build within our children and grandchildren hearts that want to create wonderful Christian homes.
Editors Note # 1: By the way, our good friend, Donnie Hilliard in Montgomery, Alabama publishes a biannual magazine entitled “Christian Families.” Each issue is filled with encouraging biographies of couples who have been married for 50 years or more. If you would be interested in receiving this outstanding publication contact the Cloverdale Center for Family Strengths that is on the campus of Faulkner University.
Editors Note # 2: If you know of someone who would like to receive updates when new articles are posted on this blog please contact me at jeff@lewisvillechurchofchrist.org.
Editors Note # 3: Just this week the Lewisville Church has made it possible for us to download sermons and classes presented at Lewisville through I-tunes. Several have requested this and we are pleased to make it available.