Craig’s step-father, Jim, passed away on Sunday, September 20. After Craig’s grandfather passed away in November of last year, then his grandmother had a stroke and is confined to a bed, and now this. How much more heartache can the family endure?With God, we can endure anything, including this.
We had a different relationship that involved our love of the Rangers. Even though I only knew him for a short time, I feel like he took me in and made me a daughter. You see, he’s estranged from his only true daughter, and he had Carole and Clint’s wife, Kim, that he could call daughters, and not to down play their relationships with him, but I feel like Jim and I had something deeper than they did. That deeper connection was sports, more specifically, baseball… Rangers Baseball.
I’ll miss my talks with Jim about how we’re doing, who we’re playing, and if we’re going to get some pitching. I’ll really miss him.
Needless to say, the past week and a half has been very difficult. And to add fuel to the fire, we found out that Craig’s store will be closing for good on December 31, 2009. His company filed for Chapter 11 and needed to sell Bailey, Banks, and Biddle to make up some of their losses. When the auction was held for the rights to Bailey, Banks, and Biddle, no one expected a liquidation company to win the bid and ultimately seal the fate of all the stores closing.
But there is always a silver lining to every rain cloud. You just have to look for it.
During Jim’s funeral, Craig read a eulogy he’d written for Jim. In his speech, he mentioned going through the teaching program. After the service, the pastor’s wife approached Craig to see where he was teaching. When he explained that he had not found a position yet, she told him about an opportunity at Southwest Christian School’s Preparatory Campus in Benbrook. Then, Pastor Grassley told Craig he would personally visit Southwest Christian and put in a good word.
Craig completed his application last night. We’re continuing to pray for a position, especially in light of the new developments with Bailey, Banks, and Biddle.
When things like Jim’s passing, the news of Craig’s store closing, and the potential for a job all happen within a short time frame, I know exactly what’s going on. God is working and moving through our lives during the times when we need it most. He is walking beside us, giving us a shoulder to lean on, and He is carrying us during those times when we can’t walk on our own.
I love God. He is so amazing. And I’m so jealous of Jim for having seen Him in person. I know I’ll see Jim again in Heaven. He’ll meet me at the gates with the rest of my family that precedes me. I know God will take these dark and dismal times and make the sun shine on our faces again soon.
But until then, when it rains, it may pour, but I’ll put on my galoshes and splash in the puddles.
In Memory of Jim Smith
1947-2009
“The Lord bless you, and keep you;
The Lord make His face to shine upon you,
And be gracious unto you;
The Lord lift His countenance upon you,
And give you peace.”
~Numbers 6:24-26
