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Chip Shots from the Ruff of Life
by Tom Kelley
This morning (Wednesday, June 11) Vertie Thomas passed away. That name means absolutely nothing to the majority of you although perhaps one or two of you may know who Vertie was. I first met Vertie back in 1994. She was 67 years old then. She was a widow lady in a church at which I had just been hired. While things were being settled in Mt. Vernon, KY, where our family was closing out a ministry, I was needing some place to stay in Winchester, KY, to effectively begin my ministry there. Vertie Thomas was the person who truly opened her home to me.
It was an amazing situation. I was this forty something preacher who had gotten used to night owl times and sleeping until eight o'clock or later. That lasted about two days with Vertie. It wasn't long before I was rising at anyplace from four thirty to five thirty in the morning and loving it. In short (and I do mean short; Vertie was barely five feet tall), Vertie finished my rise to manhood. I began to take responsibility for what and who I am. I remember early morning talks with Vertie over coffee in which she would advise me on being a quality human being.
When my family and I finally found a place to rent in Winchester, my wife and children got to know Vertie and fell in love with her. It became routine for me to visit with her every week. I was supposed to be the one blessing her life as her new minister, yet, she was the one who was lifting me up before God and helping me to continue to grow in my ministry. My family and I never had to question what Vertie felt toward us. Nor did she ever have to question how we felt about her. My youngest son, Sean, asked us to have her over for supper. He did the cooking. His first try at apple chicken was a huge success with Vertie. She was impressed.
When it came time for the local hospice facility to send someone to assist Vertie's daughter (with whom Vertie was living for the last year and a half) with care for Vertie, my daughter, Kara, was the one who was sent. Kara and Vertie had always had a wonderful relationship over the years and it continued as Kara cared for her as a hospice worker; and devoted herself to her as a friend. Vertie has been such a huge influence and blessing to our family. She was kind of like a substitute mother and grandmother for us. We sought her counsel and she freely and lovingly gave it.
Our family discovered the truth of an old proverb. "The silver-haired head is a crown of glory, if it is found in the way of righteousness." Proverbs 16:31 Vertie's silver hair was indeed a crown of glory for her. She was respected in the church and in the community, but no moreso than in our family. Her walk in righteousness before us was one that our family will never forget. God blesses His people in wonderful ways. Sometimes those blessings are big and easily seen. Sometimes they're wrapped up in a small package of silver-haired wisdom. Rest easy, Vertie, your Lord has you in His arms now.
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...He was the Minister of the Minorsville Christian Church located near Stamping Ground, KY.
...Becky and Tom have three children; John, single and in worship ministry in Nicholasville, Kentucky; Sean, married (Jennifer, elementary school teacher) with twins (Grace and Patrick, b.d. 10/31/04) and regional director of Papa John's Pizza in Central KY; Kara, married (Vince Taylor, prison guard) and working with Hospice East in Winchester, KY.
...Tom went to be with the Lord on November 13, 2009 after a lengthy battle with cancer. If you have been touched by Tom's writings please send an email to Tom's son at jkelley@catalystchristian.net
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