One part of Jerry’s personality that has remained is his gentle spirit. It was there all along in his younger years, but it was covered up with all his “type A” assertive, make a million, driven work ethic behaviors. I wrote in one of my first posts, that one of Jerry’s first questions to me was, “How do you have a relationship with God, if you’ve lost your mind.” That was 11 years ago. Yesterday, our pastor spoke on Matthew 5:5, “Blessed are the gentle, for they shall inherit the earth.” He referred to Galatians chapter 5. How can man know if he has the spirit of God in him? The Apostle Paul tells us in Galatians that the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self control.

Jerry has all those things. It seems to me, that once this disease stripped away all the behaviors that were “in the way”, what remains in his heart is the Spirit of God.

When Jerry married me, I was one of those strong, independent, cowgirl types, who could saddle up and ride ‘em out, like one of those girls from the Ponderosa. Our dates were cleaning stalls, and washing down horses. No sorority, pinks and greens for me. None of that hippy stuff for me, either. The most hippy thing I did was I turn my long blond straight hair into a permed and frizzy brillo pad. (However, I did play a good guitar.) Independence and resourcefulness was the thing that Jerry liked about me. Who knows, maybe I was a challenge for him. Once we were married, I took a back seat and supported his endeavors. We made a good team.

But now, I’ve come to rely on the “ole” Sue (not OLD, mind you.) But along with the old Sue, comes that impatient thing. I mean, I still struggle with the gentleness thing. Impatience is one of things I put in a box and lay at the feet of God on a daily basis. EVERY DAY! I pray for God’s spirit to take over my spirit so that I will be gentle and considerate. I know Jerry hopes I figure it out someday. Ha! Course, I’m not sure he what he thinks. Maybe that’s a good thing.