There are many ways to measure the people living around us. Often we measure people by stature. Sometimes it is by obedience, some by kindness to others, some men by acknowledging a man in our church who shows God’s love in many ways.

Have you ever tried to get an item off a shelf at the grocery store or recover an item from the attic stored years ago, only to find you were too short? A trunk or box filled with articles from the past has become too heavy to lift.

While you reminisce of the past, you find your old treasures, easily stored, are much too heavy to lift. Your arms have shortened and muscles have weakened and you cannot reach all that you so easily discarded years ago.

Then perhaps help comes when we least expect it. I’m sure we have all experienced the need for help, at times, when we feel most helpless, especially when we enter the golden years of our lives. I was thinking of some blessings given me since I had a stroke three years ago.

Now I walk with a cane and leg brace on my left side. Almost a year after my stroke, I attended a church function where members were making apple butter.

While socializing with church members in a grassy area, I lost my balance and fell. I hit the ground hard. I couldn’t get up by myself. I looked up to see a big man running toward me. He scooped me up as if I was a rag doll. I weighed 200 pounds.

I’ll never forget the passion and concern in that man’s eyes. This Christian brother was showing me God’s love through his size and strength.

I have witnessed this man’s obedience to serve God and fellow man in being called into the ministry, helping people with food and clothing, starting an organization known as The Shepherd’s Closet and distributing these goods to folks in areas of natural disasters.

Not only big in stature, Ed Gullett is big in heart and loving kindness.

Thanks Ed for the service to people in our community.

God bless you and thanks again.

Donald E. Frazee

Ironton