Bill Adcock

My friend Bill Adcock is in the hospital in Florida, where they are caring for his heart. He is on my mind and in my prayers, and so in my blog today.

He was my parents' friend first, a part of their church youth group, back at the old Calvary Baptist Church in Dearborn, where I grew up (and where the building is now used by Hill Memorial Church of God in Christ).

I have always considered him one of the first persons to welcome me into the world of adult responsibilities when he was a member of the Nominating Committee. He asked me to serve on the Christian Education Committee when I was 18, where I learned a lot.

Sometimes it may be difficult to ask people to do something, but somehow he asked in a way that I was honored and excited.

Fast forward to when I learned to use e-mail.. He became an email buddy, sending all sorts of jolly notes. And one year, when John and I were contemplating what to do with some early spring vacation time, he encouraged us to come down and see them in Florida. I had never thought much about going to Florida, but his encouragement was warm and persistent. So, we traveled (spring of 2005, before Hurricane Katrina hit later that summer), to see Bill and Jean, along with other welcoming hosts, the Martindales, the Otts, and over in Mississippi, the Hamptons (who moved to Minnesota after the Hurricane... now thinking of Maurie and Bev too, who just had wrist surgery).

People have prayed for me so much.
I am reminded to keep lifting the names of others, as well, to God who knows, who loves, who holds us close.