I knew Captain John K. Mitchell for exactly three hours and thirty-five minutes, the time it took to fly from Nashville to Phoenix. John was sitting in the window seat, and I was on the aisle. Mercifully, the center seat was unoccupied. Thank goodness for elbow room.
As soon as I had slipped my briefcase under the seat in front of me, I greeted my seatmate. John looked to be in his seventies. Actually, he was ninety-three. I had no idea. He had been a naval officer and was on his way from New England to San Diego. Of course, I thought to myself, Navy men are always on their way to San Diego.
John’s eyes twinkled when he told me he was going to spend some time with friends on the West Coast. “Where’s your wife?” I asked. “Oh, I lost Florence four years ago,” he responded, his eyes telling me the pain was still fresh.
“I’m so sorry for your loss,” I offered. “That’s OK,” John quickly responded. “During the time God gave us together,” he continued, “we lived by the verse, ‘We know that all things work together for the good of those who love God, who are called according to his purpose.’ God was so good to give me the years I did have with Florence.”
What courage, I thought to myself. What faith. The story of John and Florence Mitchell goes back to the day when this young bride and groom committed their love and loyalty to each other. “In sickness and in health?” the minister had asked. “Yes, sir,” this bright young couple had responded, “in sickness and in health.” And even though John had been called on to care for his wife like he had never expected, that twinkle in his eye let me know that if he had it to do over again, he would have.
Even though I was at thirty thousand feet, scooting away from my own wife at over six hundred knots, my heart was drawn back to her. In sickness and in health, Honey, I breathed. I promise to love you regardless of the way “God works for the good” in our lives, too. I want to live by this verse, too. This courageous navy captain bled pure inspiration.
The apostle Paul’s promise is good. If we love God, we will be called in line with His perfect purposes. And this high calling will give us the courage to face life’s challenges, even its tragedies.
John knew about this. “I’m the luckiest man alive to have been married to Florence,” he finally said. “She was the most wonderful girl in the world.” John and Florence Mitchell had been married for sixty-six years. A full thirty years before her death, a stroke had mercilessly reduced her to living as an invalid. “I took care of her every need, every single day,” Captain Mitchell told me. “I wouldn’t have had it any other way. It was my honor.”
“All things” may not work together exactly according to our plans. But if we walk with our heavenly Father, if we obey His call, we will, like Captain John K. Mitchell, be able to look back when we’re ninety-three and declare all things “good.”
Thank you, Captain Mitchell. Thanks for your courage, your integrity, and your faithfulness. I want to be just like you.