Remembering Dear JJ

We lost a dear friend about this time last year.  He was a funny godly man.  I treasure the memories that I have of JJ. I'd like to share a few with you.  

This is the last Christmas card we got from him.  He wrote on the back that "this doesn't look much like a Christmas card..." which is a classic JJ comment.

This is a narrative he wrote about a young man he met while in France serving during WWII.  He gave me a copy and I thoroughly enjoyed reading it.  I used to be a French teacher and JJ knew I would appreciate the French that he remembered.

JJ hand-painted lovely impressionist birthday cards for all the members of our church.  Yes, ALL.  We have many of them displayed in our home as a sweet reminder of his thoughtfulness.

This is my favorite painting of his.  I really like thinking about how we are the clay and God is the master potter. I took a photo of a sculptor working on a lump of clay, gave it to JJ, and asked him if he would make it into a painting.  A week later JJ brought me this!  I look at it all the time to remind me that I'm just clay.

I had the opportunity to sit near JJ many times during our church services.  His running commentaries and off-key singing made my heart laugh, and I loved the way he would change words to songs to suit his fancy.  For example, once when we were singing the song "10,000 Reasons" and we came to the line "And on that day when my strength is failing, the end draws near and my time has come..." JJ added loudly "But not yet I hope, Lord!"

I served the residents of St. Andrew's Village with JJ for years during our monthly church services.  I played the piano for the hymn-singing and he would lead the songs with a microphone.  I counted on him because, unlike me, JJ knew every song in that hymn book.  Many times I would notice that JJ would be singing in a completely different key than the one I was playing in, but that didn't seem to bother anyone, and I'm sure it sounded great in heaven where all those praises were headed!

He taught many times at those Sunday night services at St. Andrew's.  I'll never forget his message about the importance of women in the Bible.  And one time he gave us his secret for growing old gracefully.  JJ said "Always keep yourself busy, and never forget that the Lord loves you very, very much!"

JJ left a big impression on the lives of those who knew him. For any of you who want to share, I would love to read more stories about our dear friend!