Jan 30, 2006
I first met Jim Caswell sometime in early 1960's. It seemed to me that he and Carol had not been married very long. They came to visit one day. That was in Portland, Oregon.
We became friends, as his wife, Carol and sister, Nancy, and I, have been friends since almost the beginning of time, well, not quite, but, a long time ago, in another world, when I was about 5 years old and Carol was a couple of years younger and Nancy was almost a year older, ( she holds seniority on me for 350 days out of each year - Smile).
Anyway, Jim and Carol and my wife, then, Mary Kathryn, and I used to meet from time to time in various locations, mainly Oregon and Washington to do things like picnics, hiking, swimming, penochle, pool, sports of one kind or another and just good times in general.
Time went along and Jim and Carol and children moved to different parts of the world, but we would always make contact eventually, sometimes, after many years.
The last few times were at their home in Yelm, the one before the lake, and then once, at the lake, after I had remarried.
Jim was always the same, all those years, fun, funny, laughing, interesting to talk to, easy going, always a friend to me and my family.
I knew he had a battle with diabetes, but he was just determined to live life like he did not have it, it seemed, and, finally, it caught up to him, it seems. But, a lot of people would have tossed in the towel and just have taken it easy, but, not Jim Caswell, as near as I could tell.
That made it a bit trying for his family at times, but Jim was Jim, an individual, and lived his life as adventurous as he could and I was glad to share some of it with him and Carol and his boys from time to time.
One night in his kitchen at the Yelm house, several years ago, I talked to him about THE LORD JESUS CHRIST AND ETERNAL LIFE, IN HIM. Jim listened for an hour or more and contributed, also. He never did say, for sure, what he believed, but, it sounds like, from what his boys said about him in the guestbook, that he practiced Christian kindness to others along the way.
If I get to HEAVEN, BY THE GRACE OF THE LORD, I would like to see him there, also, along with the rest of his family, for I have had them on my Prayer List for many years, and lifted them all up in Prayer, every day, and I would like to see those Prayers Answered in a Very Affirmative Way!
So, we remember the good times and the struggles, and life goes on a little while longer.
And, so, as I close this farewell to Jim, and, in Jim's behalf, and with Carol's understanding friendship, I would like to encourage all who read this to consider something a man told me a long time ago: "There has to be more to life on this planet than Working, Playing, Making Money, Marrying, having Children, and all that goes with that and doing that for about 70 years, give or take, as wonderful as all that can be, amidst the trials, also, and then dying and leaving all you had to your family, relatives and friends, and that's it!" As a song said, back in the 60's, "Is that all there is?"
Well,I would like to answer that song by saying that, No, that is not all there is! THERE IS AN INFINITELY GREATER OPPORTUNITY FOR all those who will avail themeselves of IT. IT IS ETERNAL LIFE for everyone who will realize that THE LORD JESUS CHRIST MADE THAT POSSIBLE for each and every person who will accept HIM AS THE SAVIOUR AND LORD OF their lives. I not only believe that, but I know IT IS 100% TRUE, with all my heart and soul, and I take this Golden Opportunity, now, to share that with all of you, in hopes that all of you will accept HIS MOST LOVING OFFER to each of you and wait no longer, for the time is running out. Thank you for reading and "Listening" with your heart, and thank you Jim and thank you Carol, and thank you Martin, Trevor, and Daniel, and your families, for the times we had together, even though it was some time back in the past. AND, MOST OF ALL, THANK THEE LORD FOR THY UNSPEAKABLE GIFT, IMMANUEL, "GOD WITH us" NOW, AND FOREVER, AMEN.
Randahl Wells Holder#
