God’s Gems

June 26, 2008

By Betty Rich Hendon

I think of my friend, Dr. Jim Cole, when I see a beautiful piece of jewelry. Jim was a chiropractor, not a jeweler, but he was an avid mineral and rock collector.

Jim had searched in many areas of the world for rocks, minerals and rare gems. Despite his travels, some of his favorite specimens were ones he had dug out of the ground in Arkansas and Tennessee. When he could spend a week at his cabin in Arkansas with his grandchildren, he loved to show them his boxed and labeled collection and tell them the story behind each find.

Jim had started his collection as far back as his fighter pilot days in World War II and Korea. He was a gentle, but tough man. Yet, his strength was no match for cancer. He endured a painful battle with that disease.

I remember the day Jim ventured on a new path in the life beyond this one. His wife, Melba, my dear friend, struggled with his loss.

But Jim’s loved ones could take comfort in a wonderful promise of God whenever they looked at Jim’s collection. God is building an eternal city whose foundations include layers of the very gems Jim treasured. You can read about that city in Revelation 21:9-21.

I hope you’re ready to go there, friend.

— Adapted from “Paths That Cross,” by Betty Rich Hendon.