My bride and joy

 “You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye must be put out for an eye. A tooth must be knocked out for a tooth.’ (Exodus 21:24; Leviticus 24:20; Deuteronomy 19:21) But here is what I tell you. Do not fight against an evil person. Suppose someone slaps you on your right cheek. Turn your other cheek to them also. Suppose someone takes you to court to get your shirt. Let them have your coat also. Suppose someone forces you to go one mile. Go two miles with them. Give to the one who asks you for something. Don’t turn away from the one who wants to borrow something from you.

“You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor. (Leviticus 19:18) Hate your enemy.’  But here is what I tell you. Love your enemies. Pray for those who hurt you. Then you will be children of your Father who is in heaven. He causes his sun to shine on evil people and good people. He sends rain on those who do right and those who don’t. If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Even the tax collectors do that.  If you greet only your own people, what more are you doing than others? Even people who are ungodly do that. So be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect.(Matthew 5:38-48)

I write this morning to honor my wife. Yes, it is the solemn remembrance of the 9-11 tragedies.  I think back to that day when I heard the news on the radio while preparing my mail route. New York....the Pentagon....PA....

You see, my wife had just left the Pentagon less than a year earlier to serve full time in our mission work. Her obedience to the Lord (Joshua 1:9) kept her with me. God called and she obeyed! She lost thirteen co workers that day. To this day she cannot return to the Pentagon nor choose to "remember" this day. It is still forced. Yet I celebrate my loving, caring, and obedient bride. Because she loves and trust the Lord so much, she is with us today!

Now over twenty years of ministry together, I have seen her live out the verses found embedded in steel that day in NY. (SEE PHOTO) She loves. She cares. She gives and forgives. She sacrificed her career. She sacrifices her health. She sacrifices daily for me, our children, our grandchildren, for more than sixty kids who have lived within our home, and she lives out Jesus'commands to serve and not to be served!

To grieving families I offer the hope of Jesus! To children with parents who were lost, I offer the loving arms of Jesus. To my wife, I offer my life and commitment. To my Lord and Savior, I give my heart and soul for eternity! 

Thank you Tamara Althea Douglas-Carroll . . .my rock, my bride and joy. Thank you Jesus, my Rock of Ages!