Thank You Mr. Ray

This past week I learned of the passing of Mr. Ray.

Mr. and Mrs. Ray were great friends of my parents. They were the very first people my parents met on the very first day they attended First United Methodist Church in Birmingham, MI. This was the church that became our family home church. It was my home church for 20+ years. The church I was married in. The church my first child was baptized in. All because the Ray’s were nice.

I grew up with their children, Julie and Tommy. We didn’t attend the same schools, but we were great friends through church. We came up through VBS, choir and youth group together.

Our families spent many Thanksgiving holidays together considering each an extension of our own.

Mr. Ray’s job with Proctor and Gamble moved them out to California back in the late 80’s and there they stayed. They were there when I went out to San Francisco for a summer internship with IBM. Mr. Ray introduced me to Chinatown. I never thought I liked Chinese food (long story having to do with Chow Mein) so I wasn’t excited about going. But he insisted and introduced me to a whole new cultural food experience that I continue to love today.

One of the last times I visited Mr. and Mrs. Ray in their home, nearly 26 years ago,

Mrs. Ray shared a salad dressing recipe with me that has become a family favorite and is a staple at all family gathering meals.

Mr. Ray was our high school Sunday school teacher. He had a heart for leading us through the Word of God and engaging us in great discussion. I look back on those times and realize I did not appreciate that love and investment nearly enough.

As I have matured, both in age and in faith, I recognize there are those who planted seeds in my life that are even just now beginning to bear fruit. Mr. Ray was one of those seed planters for me. I am confident that much of the foundation for what I know about Jesus came from him. I am confident that his investment in me formed the anchor that kept me from straying too far. I am confident that I love Jesus today in part because he loved Jesus way back then.

My heart is sad over his passing. I haven’t seen or talked to him in a lot of years but that doesn’t lessen the sadness. I am confident, though, that he is with Jesus and all of the lives he touched and impacted are being revealed to him as he hears

“Well done, my good and faithful servant.”

I would say Rest in Peace Mr. Ray but I don’t believe that is what you are doing. I believe you are dancing in incredible joy with your Lord and maybe even enjoying a good meal of Chinese food.

Love,

Denise