An Imperishable Inheritance
Stories
Object:
Contents
"An Imperishable Inheritance" by Frank Ramirez
"Harry's Legacy" by Timothy J. Smith
* * * * * * * *
An Imperishable Inheritance
by Frank Ramirez
1 Peter 1:3-9
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! By his great mercy he has given us a new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you,…
-- (1 Peter 1:3-4)
Colleges and universities employ talented individuals whose job it is to seek out and encourage people of wealth to include their institutions in their wills. Smaller donations are always welcome but the big prize are bequests of hundreds of thousands, or even millions, of dollars. The professionals target the rich for these gifts.
So I doubt if it would have ever occurred to any university to target a poor washerwoman who lived by herself, didn't own a car, and pushed a shopping cart a mile and back when she bought groceries, as a potential large donor.
So when Oseola McCarty (1908-1999), of Hattiesburg, Mississippi, with the help of her bank, established a $150,000 scholarship fund for the University of Southern Mississippi, it shocked the university, but inspired the world. Oseola had never even stepped on the college's campus when she gave the gift in July of 1995. She had quit school in the sixth grade to take care of a sick aunt and began saving what money she earned at that early age.
For over 75 years she earned her keep doing laundry for others. She only quit in 1994 when her arthritis became too much for her. She always relied on her two feet for transportation, except on Sunday when friends would drive her to church. And she never stopped saving, and she never took money out of her savings accounts.
She learned her habit of saving from her grandmother and mother, who died in 1944 and 1964, respectively. The aunt whom she cared for, for whom she quit school, died in 1967. The modest home she lived in was given to her by her uncle in 1947. Three generations of Hattiesburg residents knew her only as the washerwoman, but her work impressed everyone and her customers were faithful for generations.
As she grew older over the years her bankers realized her money was accumulating impressively and they wanted to help her use it to improve her life. Working together, she set aside money for her church, her relatives, and especially for the University of Southern Mississippi. Osceola would not be swayed from her intention to give so much to the college. Nor did she want any of fuss about the gift.
"I'm giving it away so that the children won't have to work so hard, like I did," she was quoted as saying.
But as her story came to be known there was a great deal of what Oseola considered fuss. She was honored by then President Clinton, the Congressional Black Congress, and the United Nations. She took a plane trip and slept in a hotel for the first time (she made the bed before she left). She became a hero at the University. Over 600 donors combined to add $300,000 to her scholarship fund, and her gift inspired Ted Turner to give away a billion dollars of his own money. Oseola received over 300 awards and recognitions, but none of it went to her head. She said once, "I can't do everything, but I can do something to help somebody. And what I can do I will do. I wish I could do more."
She continued to live simply, although her bankers finally convinced her to add a few creature comforts, such as air conditioning and cable television. She died in 1999 from liver cancer, at the age of 91.
Oseola McCarty was a poor woman who gave a great inheritance to benefit others who never expected it. In today's scripture passage the apostle celebrates the inheritance we receive from Jesus Christ. The Jesus who died on the cross had nothing. Even his garments were taken away by his executioners. Yet the inheritance, unexpected, benefits us all beyond measure, and challenges us all, like Oseola, to do what we can, which might be more than anyone could imagine.
Frank Ramirez has served as a pastor for nearly 30 years in Church of the Brethren congregations in Los Angeles, California; Elkhart, Indiana; and Everett, Pennsylvania. A graduate of LaVerne College and Bethany Theological Seminary, Ramirez is the author of numerous books, articles, and short stories. His CSS titles include Partners in Healing, He Took a Towel, The Bee Attitudes, and three volumes of Lectionary Worship Aids.
Harry's Legacy
Timothy J. Smith
John 20:19-31
Harry was a quiet, gentle, kind-hearted man who daily demonstrated his concern for people. He was a pastor for over forty years, serving his last church for twenty years. When it came to preaching Harry had a style all his own. He was not what might be labeled flashy; he certainly was no showman. Harry had the gift of making people feel at ease. Whenever anyone wanted to speak with him he always made that person feel welcome and comfortable. He always had time for his parishioners, and never gave the perception that he was too busy to speak with anyone who wanted to talk with him. The adults in the congregation looked to Harry as the kind father. For the children and youth, Harry was the ideal grandparent. When he retired the congregation that he had served so well gave him and his wife a once-in-a-lifetime trip to the Holy Land.
It was not long after they returned from their trip that Harry got a part-time job as a grocery bagger at a local supermarket. Even though he was retired he still had energy and still wanted to be around people. Besides, he figured, they could use the extra income. A warm smile always greeted persons as they checked out. He would occasionally offer an encouraging word to someone who shared a problem or concern. His popularity was among the children. In addition to always speaking with the children in line with their parents, Harry would often have a hand puppet in his pocket that he would bring out and speak in a funny voice to the children. The children loved him and every time they went to the supermarket they looked for the kind, old man. Whenever his puppet would appear there was always laugher. Harry was an ambassador of goodwill among the employees, who soon came to love him.
At first people from his former congregation felt uncomfortable seeing their retired pastor bagging groceries. Soon they would talk with him on their way out of the store. Before too long, like the children, adults would look for Harry every time they shopped. Harry always had an encouraging word, a word of hope, to offer people.
For 23 years after his retirement Harry bagged groceries. Then one winter Harry fell and broke his leg. He would no longer be able to work at the supermarket.
It was while Harry was home recuperating that a trusted colleague stopped to see him. With enthusiasm Harry told how he was studying his Bible. Currently he was once again reading the book of Romans. He showed his friend his Bible where he was making notes in the margins. His friend was surprised that Harry would find not only strength but fulfillment in reading his Bible, something he had done all his life. As his friend left he told Harry that he hoped he had as much desire to immerse himself in the word of God when he reached his age.
(from Lectionary Tales for the Pulpit, Series II, Cycle A [0-7880-1217-7], CSS Publishing Co., 1998, pp. 62-63)
*****************************************
StoryShare, May 1, 2011, issue.
Copyright 2011 by CSS Publishing Company, Inc., Lima, Ohio.
All rights reserved. Subscribers to the StoryShare service may print and use this material as it was intended in sermons, in worship and classroom settings, in brief devotions, in radio spots, and as newsletter fillers. No additional permission is required from the publisher for such use by subscribers only. Inquiries should be addressed to permissions@csspub.com or to Permissions, CSS Publishing Company, Inc., 5450 N. Dixie Highway, Lima, Ohio 45807.
"An Imperishable Inheritance" by Frank Ramirez
"Harry's Legacy" by Timothy J. Smith
* * * * * * * *
An Imperishable Inheritance
by Frank Ramirez
1 Peter 1:3-9
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! By his great mercy he has given us a new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you,…
-- (1 Peter 1:3-4)
Colleges and universities employ talented individuals whose job it is to seek out and encourage people of wealth to include their institutions in their wills. Smaller donations are always welcome but the big prize are bequests of hundreds of thousands, or even millions, of dollars. The professionals target the rich for these gifts.
So I doubt if it would have ever occurred to any university to target a poor washerwoman who lived by herself, didn't own a car, and pushed a shopping cart a mile and back when she bought groceries, as a potential large donor.
So when Oseola McCarty (1908-1999), of Hattiesburg, Mississippi, with the help of her bank, established a $150,000 scholarship fund for the University of Southern Mississippi, it shocked the university, but inspired the world. Oseola had never even stepped on the college's campus when she gave the gift in July of 1995. She had quit school in the sixth grade to take care of a sick aunt and began saving what money she earned at that early age.
For over 75 years she earned her keep doing laundry for others. She only quit in 1994 when her arthritis became too much for her. She always relied on her two feet for transportation, except on Sunday when friends would drive her to church. And she never stopped saving, and she never took money out of her savings accounts.
She learned her habit of saving from her grandmother and mother, who died in 1944 and 1964, respectively. The aunt whom she cared for, for whom she quit school, died in 1967. The modest home she lived in was given to her by her uncle in 1947. Three generations of Hattiesburg residents knew her only as the washerwoman, but her work impressed everyone and her customers were faithful for generations.
As she grew older over the years her bankers realized her money was accumulating impressively and they wanted to help her use it to improve her life. Working together, she set aside money for her church, her relatives, and especially for the University of Southern Mississippi. Osceola would not be swayed from her intention to give so much to the college. Nor did she want any of fuss about the gift.
"I'm giving it away so that the children won't have to work so hard, like I did," she was quoted as saying.
But as her story came to be known there was a great deal of what Oseola considered fuss. She was honored by then President Clinton, the Congressional Black Congress, and the United Nations. She took a plane trip and slept in a hotel for the first time (she made the bed before she left). She became a hero at the University. Over 600 donors combined to add $300,000 to her scholarship fund, and her gift inspired Ted Turner to give away a billion dollars of his own money. Oseola received over 300 awards and recognitions, but none of it went to her head. She said once, "I can't do everything, but I can do something to help somebody. And what I can do I will do. I wish I could do more."
She continued to live simply, although her bankers finally convinced her to add a few creature comforts, such as air conditioning and cable television. She died in 1999 from liver cancer, at the age of 91.
Oseola McCarty was a poor woman who gave a great inheritance to benefit others who never expected it. In today's scripture passage the apostle celebrates the inheritance we receive from Jesus Christ. The Jesus who died on the cross had nothing. Even his garments were taken away by his executioners. Yet the inheritance, unexpected, benefits us all beyond measure, and challenges us all, like Oseola, to do what we can, which might be more than anyone could imagine.
Frank Ramirez has served as a pastor for nearly 30 years in Church of the Brethren congregations in Los Angeles, California; Elkhart, Indiana; and Everett, Pennsylvania. A graduate of LaVerne College and Bethany Theological Seminary, Ramirez is the author of numerous books, articles, and short stories. His CSS titles include Partners in Healing, He Took a Towel, The Bee Attitudes, and three volumes of Lectionary Worship Aids.
Harry's Legacy
Timothy J. Smith
John 20:19-31
Harry was a quiet, gentle, kind-hearted man who daily demonstrated his concern for people. He was a pastor for over forty years, serving his last church for twenty years. When it came to preaching Harry had a style all his own. He was not what might be labeled flashy; he certainly was no showman. Harry had the gift of making people feel at ease. Whenever anyone wanted to speak with him he always made that person feel welcome and comfortable. He always had time for his parishioners, and never gave the perception that he was too busy to speak with anyone who wanted to talk with him. The adults in the congregation looked to Harry as the kind father. For the children and youth, Harry was the ideal grandparent. When he retired the congregation that he had served so well gave him and his wife a once-in-a-lifetime trip to the Holy Land.
It was not long after they returned from their trip that Harry got a part-time job as a grocery bagger at a local supermarket. Even though he was retired he still had energy and still wanted to be around people. Besides, he figured, they could use the extra income. A warm smile always greeted persons as they checked out. He would occasionally offer an encouraging word to someone who shared a problem or concern. His popularity was among the children. In addition to always speaking with the children in line with their parents, Harry would often have a hand puppet in his pocket that he would bring out and speak in a funny voice to the children. The children loved him and every time they went to the supermarket they looked for the kind, old man. Whenever his puppet would appear there was always laugher. Harry was an ambassador of goodwill among the employees, who soon came to love him.
At first people from his former congregation felt uncomfortable seeing their retired pastor bagging groceries. Soon they would talk with him on their way out of the store. Before too long, like the children, adults would look for Harry every time they shopped. Harry always had an encouraging word, a word of hope, to offer people.
For 23 years after his retirement Harry bagged groceries. Then one winter Harry fell and broke his leg. He would no longer be able to work at the supermarket.
It was while Harry was home recuperating that a trusted colleague stopped to see him. With enthusiasm Harry told how he was studying his Bible. Currently he was once again reading the book of Romans. He showed his friend his Bible where he was making notes in the margins. His friend was surprised that Harry would find not only strength but fulfillment in reading his Bible, something he had done all his life. As his friend left he told Harry that he hoped he had as much desire to immerse himself in the word of God when he reached his age.
(from Lectionary Tales for the Pulpit, Series II, Cycle A [0-7880-1217-7], CSS Publishing Co., 1998, pp. 62-63)
*****************************************
StoryShare, May 1, 2011, issue.
Copyright 2011 by CSS Publishing Company, Inc., Lima, Ohio.
All rights reserved. Subscribers to the StoryShare service may print and use this material as it was intended in sermons, in worship and classroom settings, in brief devotions, in radio spots, and as newsletter fillers. No additional permission is required from the publisher for such use by subscribers only. Inquiries should be addressed to permissions@csspub.com or to Permissions, CSS Publishing Company, Inc., 5450 N. Dixie Highway, Lima, Ohio 45807.
