Giant Among Mere Men

Today, I learned that my Sunday School teacher for the past 35 years will go to a new season of life after this Sunday. Ronald Clark Butler, is former Dean of Student Affairs (retired) at North Carolina State University and as I told him before our Sunday school class today, is much more than a teacher to me, but in every sense, my spiritual mentor. I shall miss being spiritually nourished by this great man of God!

The neat thing is that while I was being brought up in Northern Virginia, Ronald and his wonderful wife, Billie were close friends of my cousin, Betty Jo and my uncle, the late AB Howard was their pastor. Uncle Aaron was one of my heroes as well. Ironically, his widow, was my first Sunday School teacher, the former Ruth Sharp, whom I had a major crush on. The sadness in my heart when she went to Costa Rica as a missionary, but the sheer joy, when she married Uncle Aaron, after my aunt Norah had passed away. Now, she would be my Aunt by marriage!

Two friends of mine in my Sunday school class, knew my Mom when she, Aaron, Uncle Odell and "Poppa," the Howard family icon sang in revival meetings across Eastern North Carolina and Poppa would preach the gospel. Mom played piano like none other.

How fortunate I am, to have this rich, spiritual heritage. I fall so very short of being able to even try to stand in these mighty shadows. But I am determined to see them all again in that Great Reunion Day in a distant place with my Savior, the Lord, Jesus Christ of Nazareth, Son of God, Savior of the World and Lord of the Universe. What a joyous day that will be!

picture: Mom (Annabelle Howard Roebuck) at the new church plant in Washington, NC