Throughout 2024, the feature articles are devoted to hearing stories of God’s redemption within our Rosedale Network churches. We pray these stories fuel your love for the Lord and lead you to greater service in His Church.
~Kelsey Jurkovich, Publication & Literature Committee
Avery Voth wrote the following piece for a class assignment at Rosedale Bible College. This poignant snapshot of her life leads us to view our actions from a child’s perspective. May we enter into that perspective so that eternity comes into clearer focus.
This redemption story centers on the biblical imperative to “redeem the time for the days are evil” (Eph. 5:16 paraphrase). In the war with the enemy for the souls of our children, may God give us clarity to understand the importance of teaching them “when we come in and when we go out” (Deut. 6:7-8) and in “whatever [we] do whether in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him” (Col. 3:17 NKJV).
—Roger
Life Isn’t Busy—You Choose to Be
In my favorite photo, no faces are visible. Just two figures—one tall and one very
small—walking directly away from the camera.
In the background, there is a world. A world in which our tall figure has many responsibilities. Most of which cannot be captured in pixels: bills to file, newsletters to send, guest rooms to clean, and events to organize. Life is busy, but as for now, he’s not too busy.
Visible in the picture is a work in progress. Piles of stone lay waiting to be formed into a chimney. The job has already been started; it’s been in progress for two months and it is still nowhere near done. It’s going to keep him very busy, but as for now, he’s not too busy.
Closer to the camera, a truck is parked. The white hue of this work truck is speckled by layers of mud. Only half of it is visible, but you can tell that it’s full of trash to be disposed of. He has lots to do and the trash is just another thing to get done. He’s busy taking the trash out, but as for now, he’s not too busy.
The passenger door is already open and the bed is already filled with trash, his busy life is on pause. Generally a fast walker, his stride has been slowed down.
In his dominant hand, he carries two large bags of trash, but the trash isn’t what slows him down today. Instead, it’s what is in his other hand that has lowered his speed. He’s holding just one thing. Or rather, just one thing holds him. In his hand is a little hand grasping onto all it can easily hold. Just one finger.
In our small figure’s other hand, she holds the littlest and lightest trash bag that could be found. Standing as tall as a grocery bag, the bag spans from her ear to her waist. And although the bag weighs less than a pound, she’s carrying all she can handle.
Even without faces visible you can tell they’re both happy.
If he cared about how busy he was, the taller figure easily could have transported his two bags and the smaller one in half the time, but he brought her along nonetheless. He brought his little girl to help gather the trash because even though he was busy, he wasn’t too busy for her.
—Avery
9 Responses
I have long been so impressed with the way Roger and Ruthie raised all of their children in the extremely busy, stressful schedule of summer camps year after year — fully pouring themselves into the camps while fully pouring themselves in the lives of their children! Avery, you said it so well! That picture speaks volumes!
Wow!What a sweet story. Avery has a special gift! Great to hear from your family. Grandpa & Grandma (John & Carolyn) have always been our ‘Bestest Friends’. It is so neat to see their sweet spirit has been inherited by their offspring. Best Regards from Jake & Judy R.
This is just so great. Love it!
Oh Ruthie, I love the picture I love the story and love your sweet Avery. I am crying also, so precious! Avery, love your sweet story with your daddy! The picture is icing on the cake!
Oh, that’s just so sweet and so representative of your dad! Lovely writing, Avery
That’s a very poignant writing. Thanks sweet Avery, my great-niece. ❤️
I love this!!!
This is beautiful.
This is so awesome.