“Those who sow in tears, will reap with shouts of Joy,” (Psalm 126:5). 

“So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it  shall accomplish that which I please,” (Isaiah 55:11). 

In preparation for my retirement in December 2023, I began to reflect on all the people and  events that had had a profound influence on me. I thought of family members, teachers,  coaches, friends, and coworkers. Memories of amazing people who impacted my life  significantly flooded my mind. Sadly, I am sure that many of them will never know how much  they meant to me and what their investment had accomplished. I found myself wishing there  was some way I could let them know and express my gratitude. It was as though the Lord had  somehow heard the silent prayer of my heart when my wife found out about a conference being put on by the Christian Grandparenting Network. One of the featured speakers was going to be Sharon Gamble, founder and  president of Sweet Selah Ministries. My wife, Pat, and I were going to be given a chance to  express gratitude and hopefully be a source of encouragement. 

Pat and Sharon met at West Point back in 1989 and became fast friends. In the Army culture of  that time this was an unlikely friendship. Sharon’s husband Ray was a Major and professor of  military history at the academy and I was an junior enlisted soldier assigned to the 146th EOD. This was a relationship that was not exactly encouraged, if not officially at least culturally  it was frowned upon. Ray and Sharon met the lukewarm LeBons at the chapel service. We were  young, almost newlyweds with a toddler and a newborn, still struggling to figure out what it  meant to be a husband and wife and build a Christian home. Ray and Sharon did not allow  roles or cultural barriers to prevent them from befriending, mentoring, and encouraging us. They  made quite an impression. At some point, Sharon gave Pat a little red Bible as a gift. I am sure  Sharon had no idea how significant that gift would become. 

As is the norm in the military, Ray and Sharon moved and eventually we did as well. Pat and  Sharon lost touch for over 30 years in the pre-email and social media era until a Facebook  reunion was made. For us, the intervening years were eventful to say the least. 

In 1991, I was sent on a 10-month deployment to the Middle East for Operation Desert Shield/ Desert Storm. Pat gave me the little red Bible because it was small and would fit in the pockets  of my rucksack or uniform. I kept it with me like a good luck charm through every phase of the  deployment, but sadly never once cracked it open. That would all change when I redeployed  and had to face a new and dramatically different war at home. 

Reintegration is one of the biggest challenges military couples face. For us and our fragile  marriage, it was almost fatal. Upon my return home we left West Point for an assignment at  Redstone Arsenal in Huntsville, AL. That was where we had to fight our toughest battle ever, the one to save our marriage. We went through a mercifully brief period of  separation, and it was only by the work of God through an Army Chaplain and the ministry of Whitesburg Baptist Church that we were brought back from the brink of divorce. Pat and I  went through personal revival, rededicated our lives to Christ and began to grow in Christ. Somehow the little red Bible found its way into my uniform pocket, only now it was cracked open regularly. 

A funny thing happened as I began to spend significant time in that little red Bible, I fell in love  with God’s Word, and He began giving me a hunger, as well as numerous opportunities to share  it. I began to sense a calling into full time ministry and left the Army in 1996 for seminary training. There I  had other Bibles with notes and study aids for class and assignments, but the little red Bible remained my go-to for regular reading. 

I went back on Active Duty as a Chaplain in 2000 and dove headlong into ministry to soldiers  and their families with the little red Bible as my primary tool. Through constant use, the little red  Bible started to show signs of wear. It was heavily dog eared, highlighted, tabbed, written in and  stained with sweat and mud. In order to preserve it for continued use, I covered it in olive drab  (the Army’s favorite color) duct tape. The little red Bible was no more. Now it was a confirmed  Army quality little OD (olive drab) Bible, but its message, power, and role in my life had not changed. It was my constant companion through 23 years of military ministry that covered numerous field trips for exercises and three combat deployments, as well as more memorial services and death notifications than I care to remember. It has also been on hand to conduct worship services, Bible studies, retreats, marriage counseling, and had a part in leading many soldiers to faith in Christ and through baptismal waters. When I retired, I decided the little red/OD Bible deserved  to retire as well. 

When Pat and I learned of the upcoming Grandparenting Conference we knew we would have  an opportunity to see Sharon again. I broke the little red/OD Bible out of retirement to show her.  Then we received a generous offering of hospitality from Sherry Schumann, President of the  Christian Grandparenting Network, to join her, the rest of the board members, and those who  would be speaking at the conference. Pat and I grew excited, anticipating both the conference and the reunion with Sharon. When we left home to attend the conference we did so with the little red/OD Bible safely tucked into our bags to show Sharon, hoping that it would  bring her a measure of joy, knowing of the fruit that was born by what she may have thought was a relatively insignificant act of kindness. 

It has been part of a major work of God in our lives and in turn, the lives of others. After the long and numerous hugs and tears of our reunion, I told Sharon that I had something to show her. When showing it to her and sharing the story of the little red/OD Bible’s journey, the look on Sharon’s face let me know that it had brought the joy I had hoped. The little red/OD Bible completed its final mission and gave me a chance to say “Thank You.” 

Side note: As I wrote this I decided the little red/OD Bible needs a new retirement home. The  Gamble home is where its new mission will be to bring joy to those who gave it as a reminder of  the fulfillment of God’s promise that His word will not return void. In fact, this one is full of fruit  and is quite “accomplished” because you chose to love and to give.