Survivor Part Three

Although Mae Louis Westervelt and her husband never attained their dream of providing a home for missionary children, God did allow them to secure several low-cost homes in Denny Terrace, a community near Columbia Bible College. These were rented to students and to missionaries home on furlough. With a sensitive heart, Mae Louise prayed, wrote and gave sacrificially to those serving God on foreign fields. Then, unexpectedly, she was hit for the fifth time. "One day as her husband changed a tire by the roadside, he was killed by a drunken driver."

But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the surpassing greatness of the power may be of God and not from ourselves; we are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not despairing; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; always carrying about in the body the dying of Jesus, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body (2 Corinthians 4:7-10)

"Undaunted, Mae Louis walked the streets of Denny Terrace, selling Avon products to support her adopted son, and sharing the good news of life in Christ. On Fridays she visited the sick in the hospital. On Thursdays there was an evangelistic home visitation, at other times there were Bible studies with the unsaved." As unknown yet well-known...as sorrowful yet always rejoicing, as poor yet making many rich, as having nothing yet possessing all things" (2 Corinthians 6:9, 10)

Then came the sixth wave. "A pacemaker extended her fragile life, but she just kept pressing on. Sunday morning she would gather a load of little boys in her rattly old Plymouth, bring them to Sunday School and sit with them as they wiggled their way through the worship service." At Christmastime Dr. McQuilken told her, "You are one of my true heroes!" A hero she was, a soldier of the cross. Mae Louise had lived at Calvary, making the bitter sweet, and her God had not let her drown. Nor had she let Him down. She endured as seeing Him who is invisible (Hebrews 11:27). Then one day, having been "poured out as a drink offering upon the sacrifice and service of others' faith" (Philippians 2:17), while sipping tea as she sat on her living room sofa, she heard her Lord say, "Come home, and we'll dine together at My table."

Someday, Beloved, He will call you home. How comfortable will you be when you see Him face to face, the God of Calvary? How well have you fought the good fight? How well have you kept the faith?

The December 10 entry from Teach Me How To Live by Kay Arthur