I have always been fond of the word cherish, and let me tell you why. It means to care for someone or something deeply, to hold them very dear, and to treat them with love and tenderness. It also means fond memories or hopes alive in your mind because they bring you joy. It also means to love and protect, to value deeply, to prize, to treasure or to harbor in ones mind.
From my early youth I remember things I cherished, such as my mother, father, sister, and brother. My first best friends were my cousins. I cherished them and the experiences we had as children; memories I still remember and that bring me joy. My aunts and uncle were on that list, some who even their names I cherish. These were not everyday household names, they were different but they were the kinds of names you never forgot like:
Elsworth, Poncie Hurston, Zetha Lee, and Cleo. My mom's name was Golda Onita and my dad's name was Cleddie, how could I ever forget.
As I grew older I began to cherish different things such as Bosco, my dog, who never new a leash and lost his life chasing a delivery truck. Or there was my black and white shepherd, Billy, who I nursed back to life after he got hit by a car. Funny the things you cherish as a child. They have a way of teaching how to treasure better things. I still treasure the memory of two friends that were killed on the last day of our eighth grade, riding a motor scooter to a swim park to spend the day with us. One of them had taps on their shoes and they were making sparks fly off the concrete when they got struck by lightning and killed instantly. I cherish their memory because they were the first who invited me to a church camp the year before and I went.
I even had some teachers that I cherished. One was a lady, who was my English teacher in my junior year. I had won the Golden Gloves and when we went to class the morning after, she had put newspaper clippings all over the room of my championship fight. She knew how to endear herself to her students, because she had done that for others as well when they had done something successful.
GayNell is a treasure to me, as I am sure other couples feel the same. I cherish the memories of our courtship. Remember, I needed a piano player for a wife as a young preacher and she fit the bill. Really that had nothing to do with it, but we often have joked about this among other things.
I cherished her from the first moment I met her, and treated her as my life partner. Being a preacher's kid did not hurt, because I had a lot to learn. She will tell you she taught me how to speak English.
I cherish the memory of the birth of Krista, who was born with infantile glaucoma. Krista, who could talk before she could walk and who has hardly ever taken a breath. I cherish her miraculous healing. I cherish the moment God spoke to me about the ordeal we went through, and after the battle God spoke to me one morning in a Sunday Morning Worship Service and said, "Son all you had to do was ask Me."
I cherish the memory of meeting the lady from the Adoption agency at the George Bush International Airport in Houston, on flight 757 from Kansas. She placed Kyle in GayNell's arms and the joy that she and Krista had as they doted over the little premie God had given us.
I cherish the memories of the people God has entrusted us with to serve them as Pastor. People who will never realize how they enlarged my life as they trusted me with their souls and you who have trusted us for nearly 45 years this coming October. I CHERISH THE MEMORIES or as one famous character said, THANKS FOR THE MEMORIES!!!
I cherish my books, but most of all the Bible, which has served as my dear friend for sixty-six years. I cherish my library and several books that I have in it; revelation that has directed my steps along the way. They have deposited in me Devotional Insights that have become stepping-stones along the way, even in some of the loneliest days of my life. I cherish their deposit in my soul.
I cherish those who have walked the path with me and the elders who have been like rocks and pillars in my life, holding up my hands when they would have been hanging down to my side. I cherish the fun and the trips over seas which are too many to list, as well as the adventures we have had building churches in Mexico where they are still speaking about you, calling you by name.
Looking back, we have tasted the goodness of God, enjoyed His wonder, and taken the high road in every situation we have faced together. I cherish the staff members the Lord has given us over the years and the privileges God has given us as a church, to represent Him at home an abroad.
This is only a few of the important things and people, God has given me to cherish for which I am more than appreciative. You are always on my mind.
You are what my heart treasures. My greatest privilege is to serve you,
Pastor Cleddie Keith
From my early youth I remember things I cherished, such as my mother, father, sister, and brother. My first best friends were my cousins. I cherished them and the experiences we had as children; memories I still remember and that bring me joy. My aunts and uncle were on that list, some who even their names I cherish. These were not everyday household names, they were different but they were the kinds of names you never forgot like:
Elsworth, Poncie Hurston, Zetha Lee, and Cleo. My mom's name was Golda Onita and my dad's name was Cleddie, how could I ever forget.
As I grew older I began to cherish different things such as Bosco, my dog, who never new a leash and lost his life chasing a delivery truck. Or there was my black and white shepherd, Billy, who I nursed back to life after he got hit by a car. Funny the things you cherish as a child. They have a way of teaching how to treasure better things. I still treasure the memory of two friends that were killed on the last day of our eighth grade, riding a motor scooter to a swim park to spend the day with us. One of them had taps on their shoes and they were making sparks fly off the concrete when they got struck by lightning and killed instantly. I cherish their memory because they were the first who invited me to a church camp the year before and I went.
I even had some teachers that I cherished. One was a lady, who was my English teacher in my junior year. I had won the Golden Gloves and when we went to class the morning after, she had put newspaper clippings all over the room of my championship fight. She knew how to endear herself to her students, because she had done that for others as well when they had done something successful.
GayNell is a treasure to me, as I am sure other couples feel the same. I cherish the memories of our courtship. Remember, I needed a piano player for a wife as a young preacher and she fit the bill. Really that had nothing to do with it, but we often have joked about this among other things.
I cherished her from the first moment I met her, and treated her as my life partner. Being a preacher's kid did not hurt, because I had a lot to learn. She will tell you she taught me how to speak English.
I cherish the memory of the birth of Krista, who was born with infantile glaucoma. Krista, who could talk before she could walk and who has hardly ever taken a breath. I cherish her miraculous healing. I cherish the moment God spoke to me about the ordeal we went through, and after the battle God spoke to me one morning in a Sunday Morning Worship Service and said, "Son all you had to do was ask Me."
I cherish the memory of meeting the lady from the Adoption agency at the George Bush International Airport in Houston, on flight 757 from Kansas. She placed Kyle in GayNell's arms and the joy that she and Krista had as they doted over the little premie God had given us.
I cherish the memories of the people God has entrusted us with to serve them as Pastor. People who will never realize how they enlarged my life as they trusted me with their souls and you who have trusted us for nearly 45 years this coming October. I CHERISH THE MEMORIES or as one famous character said, THANKS FOR THE MEMORIES!!!
I cherish my books, but most of all the Bible, which has served as my dear friend for sixty-six years. I cherish my library and several books that I have in it; revelation that has directed my steps along the way. They have deposited in me Devotional Insights that have become stepping-stones along the way, even in some of the loneliest days of my life. I cherish their deposit in my soul.
I cherish those who have walked the path with me and the elders who have been like rocks and pillars in my life, holding up my hands when they would have been hanging down to my side. I cherish the fun and the trips over seas which are too many to list, as well as the adventures we have had building churches in Mexico where they are still speaking about you, calling you by name.
Looking back, we have tasted the goodness of God, enjoyed His wonder, and taken the high road in every situation we have faced together. I cherish the staff members the Lord has given us over the years and the privileges God has given us as a church, to represent Him at home an abroad.
This is only a few of the important things and people, God has given me to cherish for which I am more than appreciative. You are always on my mind.
You are what my heart treasures. My greatest privilege is to serve you,
Pastor Cleddie Keith