The Joplin tornado of May, 2011 shook our world. But it brought us a blessing too. A blessing in the form of an elderly couple, left homeless by that devastating windstorm. Gladys and Olen Reding were visiting their daughter and her family here in Ozark County on that fateful Sunday afternoon. They had come to see their great-grandson graduate from high school and, fortunately, decided to stay the night before returning to their home in Joplin. While they were here, their home was blown away....their belongings scattered, their lives changed forever.
Where would they live? At first, I can imagine they thought they might be able to return to their hometown where they had lived their entire married life. But as time went by, they settled in, here in Gainesville, far from their old stomping grounds.
Most people in their nineties would not be able to make the transition after such a blow to their everyday life. I don't think I could. Everything gone..or almost everything. The more I talked to them at church and visited with them in their new apartment in town, the more I realized that they treated this as another phase in their life. Gladys would reminisce about this or that, something that she had there in Joplin...and then just lift up her arms, wave her hands and exclaim, "But that was just all blown away!' and follow this statement of fact with a laugh and a smile. Olen missed his tools...and his car...and his workshop. But he also would say..."Who knows where they are now."
They were in my Sunday School class. Always able to give some insight into the lesson, and faithful in attendance. We would have Sunday dinner together at Vaught's or The Antler after church. Visit. Oh the stories they could tell. I loved our time together.
Olen had the most wonderful speaking voice. When he prayed you could almost imagine the angels in heaven stopping what they were doing to attend to his words...always heartfelt, always full of faith and joy.
Gladys was one of the most lovable women I have ever met. She would tell me how she and Olen started courting. About her life in Joplin. And her life after she married. AnnE, their daughter, posted a picture of her folks on their wedding day. Olen, so handsome and tall in his Army uniform. Gladys, a beautiful bride in a gorgeous dress, smiling the smile that only a new bride has. Obviously in love. For ever.
And now they are gone. Within a short day of each other. He went first. She followed. I have an inkling that she knew that she wanted to see him safe home first before she joined him.
Thank you Olen and Gladys. Thank you for showing us courage. Thank you for showing us grace in all circumstances. Thank you for loving us. And thank you for letting us share a short part of your long lives with us.
Go in Peace. Go in Love. Go ... and we will join you one day.
