Dear Delores, Rodney, Susan, Terry, and extended family,

It was probably 16 years ago since my wife and I last visited Jake and Delores at their beautiful place in Greenville. Jake was so nice to show me his wonderful woodworking shop and some things he had done. Following, about 5 years ago, my wife and our oldest daughter Monica visited them on their travels through Pa. Monica remarked that she had never heard Jake talk so freely and that it was so good to experience that visit with Delores and him. When we lived out in front of their Ja-Del Farm for about 11 years after they came to the Cochranton area, it was always good to see the skill of Jake (a gift from God) and the beautiful kept fields in his diligent efforts to succeed in their dairy business. As has been witnessed by several, Jake (and Delores, his very strong support) had a very nice and orderly farm before and after the tornado destruction in May of 1985, due to their hard work and the health only our Creator can give. Though it was a challenge for them, perseverance saw them through coupled with God’s gracious mercy through that challenging time. As some have said, “Hard work never hurts anyone” and “tribulation works patience”. Surely, agriculturists learn patience in temporal and spiritual realms as much or perhaps more than in other fields of service.

Blessings that came our way through the Lefflers while in rural Cochranton were that they graciously allowed me to cut up fallen and dead wood from their orchard and our family to harvest apples for apple cider making since we had more time than money, though that provided us much needed sustenance in place of earning money. Jake also cut hay off our property to assist some provender for a few sheep we raised for meat. So, as our Holy Bible says, “in as much as you did it (loving works of grace) unto the least of these my brethren, you have done it unto me (Jesus)” by assisting in the needs of the afflicted which will not be forgotten by God for any of us. I enjoyed seeing some of the views in the video of the Lefflers and I have an appreciation to see 70 years of their faithfulness to each other in marriage when too many count their marriage covenant as unimportant when hard times come. I also liked the picture of Delores in the nice long white dress and jacket which conveyed, feminines, modesty and decency, which too many have put away.

In closing, Jake lived his life doing what he believed was most rewarding. So are we. Jake left all he accomplished with the health and wealth that God allowed him to attain without taking anything out into eternity with him but his eternal spirit to be judged at the great resurrection day when his body, soul, and spirit are reunited. So will we. Jesus said, “Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my Word will abide forever.” That tells us that nothing is more important to God than that we live according to all the principles of God’s Word that we have had the opportunity to learn about. Everything else will be destroyed by His eternal fire except what God valued for all of us in our living out His Word of truth. To all of us who are living, is this what is most important?—Is the perfect will of God being done in our lives here in this life through the grace of God, faith, and works of God’s righteousness that deliver us completely in this life from a sinful heart and behaviors that displease God? I pray that each of us will be prepared to meet our one and only God without any behaviors that are displeasing to Him that are not repented of and changed by the power of His blood and the Holy Spirit.

May each of us cast our care upon God in this heart-rending time, and may we be renewed in body, soul, and spirit to live a holy life before death or Jesus comes.

Your friend in Christ,

Gordon Allen, Edinburg, Va.
pianos@shentel.net