Encouragement
I suppose that one test of Mothers and Dads is:
'Do their children rise up and call them Blessed'?
Our biological sons and daughter are:
Craig (53) was successful for many years as a college basketball coach....
but recently entered the business world.
Kevin (50) is retiring this summer after serving 30 yrs. as an Oklahoma State Trooper.
Kyle (46) is in the mobile home moving business in Houston.
Kristin (41) is a Health Prof. @ Texas Woman's University in Denton, Texas.
Our 3 adopted children are:
Jane (and husband, Gaetan Morin) live in Odessa, Texas where they minister in their church there.
Richard lives in South Elgin, Illinois where he owns 'The Fragrant Pomander' company.
Shirley lives in Tulsa and got her Doctorate in Physical Therapy in Dec.
We are SO thankful for all of our children as well as our 5 gr'children:
Jeremiah (19), Hailey (18), Halston (18), James (16) and Travis (16)
Since we celebrated Kevin's 50th birthday last Friday along with his Retirement.....
I'd like to share a bit more about Kevin Eugene Wiginton.
He was born on May 5, 1957 on a Sunday morning during our 3rd yr. of Seminary.
I was due to preach at our church in Charlie, Texas (100 miles away).
I should've known that Kevin had a strong will (even in the womb)...
as he decided to wait until 9 a.m. to make his appearance!
Little did we know that this 'strong will' would serve Kevin well in his life....
as a State Trooper for 30 years.
While pastoring First Baptist Church of Nicoma Park, Oklahoma...
we would take our Young People to Falls Creek Baptist Assembly each summer...
for a week of Bible Study (as well as daily worship services).
During that week, Kevin met Trooper Lt. Bill Price whose Christian testimony helped Kevin solidify his calling to Law Enforcement. Throughout the years, Lt. Price continued to encourage Kevin and we were SO thankful that he and his wife Joyce, were able to attend Kevin's party last week.
One night during the worship service at Falls Creek, Kevin (11th grade at that time)
felt that God was calling him into Law Enforcement, so he went forward during the invitation time and answered God's call on his life.
Believe you me, the key word here (and for Kevin's 30 yrs.) is 'Commitment'.
Kevin has never wavered and God has honored every move he's made.
In preparing for 'Kevin's Big Day' last week, his wife Michelle
(who made it a NIGHT TO REMEMBER for Kevin and all of us!!)
asked each family member to describe Kevin.
The words that surfaced over and over were 'Commitment', 'Perseverance' and 'Pride'!
While Kevin was studying Law Enforcement at OU...
the Hiway Patrol began a new program called 'Courtesy Patrol'.
Kevin was chosen to be one of four unarmed 'Baby Bears'....
who would be assisting people on the roads/highways.
Kevin was the 1st Cadet Lawman Academy graduate to enter the Highway Patrol and has been one of the teachers at the Academy each summer. Each of his sons have attended the Academy and his youngest son, James will be a cadet at Kevin's last Academy in June.
When Kevin became a full-fledged Trooper, he asked us if we would like to have a police scanner at our house so that we could know 'what' he was doing.
La Moyne was quick to answer that she did not WANT to know what he was doing...
as she didn't think she could handle that.
Just before Kevin became a Trooper, there were 3 Oklahoma Troopers killed in a shootout in 1978. People would ask 'how' we were handling having a son as a Trooper.
La Moyne said that she KNEW that she was going to need a Promise from the Lord...
so she began reading the Psalms.
She said that the first night, she found a Promise in Ps. 5:11-12:
"But let all those that put their trust in thee rejoice; let them ever shout for joy...
because thou DEFENDEST them; let them also that love thy name be joyful in thee.
For thou Lord, wilt bless the righteous; with favor wilt thou compass him as....
WITH A SHIELD".
She said that when she was still struggling the following night,
she began reading from the beginning of Psalms again.
She found her next Promise in Psalm 4:8:
"I will both lay me down in peace and sleep, for thou Lord ONLY...
makest me dwell in safety."
Whether it was Kevin (or any of our family)....
there is never a day that we do not lift them up in Prayer!
My favorite Scripture on 'Commitment' is Psalms 37.
We need to be careful, as our 'Commitment WILL show'.
The key verse is verse 5: "Commit thy way unto the Lord".
This reminds me of Jeremiah 2:13:
"My people have committed two evils: they have forsaken me, the fountain of living water and have gone to the old mud-holes of this world."
IT IS A COMMITMENT OF TRUST: (Vs. 3)
"Trust the Lord and do good; so shall you dwell in the land...
and verily you shall be cared for."
(Proverbs 3:5-6 should be memorized by everyone!)
IT IS A COMMITMENT OF DELIGHT (Joy): (Vs. 4 & 14)
Be careful and don't lose the joy of salvation.
Be careful and don't lose the joy of service.
Be careful and don't lose the joy of surrender.
When Kevin was interviewed last year by a local TV station, he told them,
"There has never been a day that I've dreaded going to work...
as I absolutely LOVE my job!"
(That is exactly how I have felt about pastoring all these years!)
IT IS A COMMITMENT OF SATISFACTION: (Vs. 7)
"Rest in the Lord and wait patiently for Him."
The key word is 'rest'. To me, it means to let your entire weight of your life, your calling, your cares...down upon the Lord.
Please note that it takes Patience!
(You might want to read my article on May 3, 2007 about Patience...
and Fortitude) Also, a key part is 'not fretting'. (Vs. 1& 16-18)
IT IS A COMMITMENT TO MEEKNESS: (Vs. 11)
"The meek shall inherit the earth and shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace."
Meekness is spoken of only of Moses and Jesus.
Thus meekness is NOT weakness!!!
Jesus said, "Blessed are the meek for they shall inherit the earth." (Matt. 5:5)
A favorite of mine concerning 'meekness' is Matt. 11:28-30:
"Come unto me all you who labor and are heavy laden and I will give you rest.
Take my yoke upon you and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly and you shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy...
and my burden is light."
Early in Kevin's career, those in command realized that since Kevin was 3 yrs. of age when we went to Korea as missionaries, he would be very helpful when there were dignitaries from Asian countries visiting Oklahoma.
They said:
"Not only does Kevin understand and respect their customs...
but he likes their food!" (That might be an understatement! :)
So on many occasions, Kevin was asked to escort those leaders, even escorting the Governor of Hawaii (who at that time was Gov. John Waihe'e) when he was in Oklahoma for the Governors' Convention.
IT IS A COMMITMENT TO RETIREMENT (AND AGING): (VS. 25-27)
"The steps (stops also) of a good man are ordered/directed by the Lord. God delights in each step they take. If they fall, it is not fatal for the Lord holds them in His hand."
Kevin told us one time that he always hated to have to stop someone who 'looked' to be elderly as he was afraid that if he had to give them a ticket, it might make them have to choose between paying the fine....or buying their food or medicine.
Continue to delight....even when it's difficult for God will make it possible.
Vs. 25: "I have been young and now I am old, and in all my years, I have never seen the Lord forsake a man who loves him...
nor have I seen the children of the Godly go hungry.
He gives and hopes that they will be generous to help others.
Their children will also be blessings." (Living Bible)
CONCLUSION:
Our daughter Kristin invited Kevin to speak to her 'Death and Dying' Class one year at her University. After Kevin left, Kristin called and was crying as she shared some of what he told her class.
She said, "I never knew some of the things that my brother has gone through!"
She said that he told of a terrible accident that he worked one time in OKC.
He said that some pipes came loose from a truck and crashed through the front windshield of a car driven by some grandparents. The pipes missed the gr'parents....
but critically injured their 2 young gr'sons in the back seat.
Kevin said that he knew that the little boys were not going to live very long....
so he cradled them in his arms until they died.
Another experience that he shared with us was when he had to go to a home....
to inform them that their loved one had been killed in a wreck.
Kevin said,
"I never go alone in those situations and I never go without praying first!"
He said that when they got there, a young pregnant lady answered the door.
When Kevin told her of her husband's death, she began screaming,
"No!Today's our wedding anniversary! He promised me he'd be home tonight!"
Kevin said that as he was trying to comfort her, the other Trooper was trying to console her 2 small children, so it took all they had to try and help that little family.
He said, "We could NOT have done that without God's help!"
Out of all of our children, Kevin tends to be more reserved.
He's never talked much about 'what' he encounters on his job,
so we were not aware of how many times Kevin has been hit
(either bodily....or while in his patrol car) until reading a write-up about him!
So we knew then, that though WE were not aware, God was aware....
and that God HAD 'shielded' our precious Kevin!
As we listened to the Commissioner and the Chief of the Hiway Patrol speak about Kevin, they shared about how Kevin's humor and friendship was going to be greatly missed.
The Commissioner said,
"Kevin's one of those guys who makes everyone feel that THEY are his best friend".
As his parents, we're excited about what God has in store now for Kevin and Michelle.
Whatever they choose to do, we already know that 'Commitment' will be part of their plans as they seek His Will for them.
I'd like to close with these thoughts:
The God of our youth and young age is the God of our aging process...and possibilities.
The God of the past is the God of the present.
The God of the good times is the God of the hard times.
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He is an example of having a loving parents like you guys...I AM SO PROUD OF HIM! Let me just say, I think Kevin made me laugh more than anyone ele in the family in 1976, when Richard and I became part of the family. I definitly needed to laugh too.. Thanks to you for bringing back good memories and God's faithfulness, and thanks to Kevin for always making me feel like part of the fam!Also, thanks to Michelle, who always stays in close contact too! They together are yet to do even greater things for the kingdom of God!
Love you guys! - Jane