Bellamy News Letter for 2019

Dear Friends,

2019 has been a wild one. Keith had a stent placed in his circumspect artery in January. Diane was diagnosed with cancer in July. At this writing she has one more chemo. Barbie moved back home to help us through this time. She has been a blessing to us and a tremendous help.

Diane retired from the nursing school after 19 years of service in July. Hannah gave birth to Ryan Dwight-Lee Addison on November 9. Our family continues to be blessed again and, again. Our daughters and their families continue to inspire us as parents, grandparents, and now great-grandparents!

On Dec. 6 we celebrated our 51sth anniversary.

We continue to work full time. The Woodville church family has blessed us for over 20 years. Keith, being a chaplain of three groups, keeps busy on top of everything else connected to church work. The prison ministry continues to bless us.

We learned a long time ago the ministry is not about us; it is about Him! In July of 2019 we completed 40 years in full time service in the ministry.

We pray all of you will have a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

Sincerely in Christ,

Diane & Keith Bellamy

1804 Old Livingston Hwy

Woodville, TX 75979

Diane’s cell – 409-429-0643

Keith’s cell – 409-429-6315

Please note our mailing address.

HOW TO STAY MARRIED

How to Stay Married

by Keith Bellamy

Many who read this column have not had the blessing of being married for 51 years. Many who read this column have not even contemplated marriage. And it seems like marriage is somewhat on the “down-hill slide” in our society.

My wife and I have been married for 51 years. We started going steady when we were in the ninth grade…five years before our marriage. To be honest, I don’t know if I fully understood, on December 6, 1968, that God was involved in our marriage. I guess I knew it, but I didn’t really understand how much He was involved (Romans 8:28).

The thought of “shacking up” was out of the picture. And the thought that we would try it and if we didn’t like it; then we would get out of it just didn’t come into our minds. Both of us were taught that marriage was for life (Matthew 19) and we still believe that.

One of the things we have learned is that there must be a lot of giving in marriage. I am talking about giving in to our spouse’s desires even when we don’t feel like it. We have learned from early on that God had to be in control of our lives.

After 51 years my wife “has become a second nature to myself!” We think alike. In fact, I cannot tell you how many times we have both thought and then said the same thing.

Being in the sales business provided a lot of temptations. But one thing I learned early was to run from such. My commitment to my wife was more important than anything else.

I remember, my granddad Bellamy telling me how he met my grandmother. He made the statement that after he met her, he didn’t want anyone else. I think I can honestly say the same thing about my wife. I have never wanted anyone else.

To be sure, we have had arguments. Now you may call them discussions, but they are arguments. And one thing we never have done is gone to bed angry. All that does is fester and then causes other problems. Consider Ephesians 4:26, 27 (NIV). “In your anger do not sin: Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, and do not give the devil a foothold.”

Let me say, if God is not involved in your marriage, it probably won’t work. But if God is involved in your marriage you will be blessed more than you can possibly imagine.

DON'T SAVE IT FOR THE FUNERAL

Don't Save It for the Funeral

by Alan Smith

An elderly man lay dying in his bed. In death's agony, he suddenly smelled the aroma of his favorite chocolate chip cookies wafting up the stairs. He gathered his remaining lifted himself from the bed. Leaning against the wall, he slowly strength, and made his way out of the bedroom, and with even greater effort forced himself down the stairs, gripping the railing with both hands. With labored breath, he leaned against the doorframe, gazing into the kitchen. Were it not for death's agony, he would have thought himself already in heaven: There, spread out on the kitchen table, were literally hundreds of his favorite chocolate chip cookies. Was it heaven? Or was it merely one final act of heroic love from his devoted wife, seeing to it that he left this world a happy man?

Share it with them now! Mustering one great final effort, he threw himself toward the table. His aged and withered hand made its way to a cookie at the edge of the table, when his wife suddenly smacked it with a spatula. "Stay out of those," she said. "They're for the funeral."

She's not the only person to save something for a funeral that should have been shared long before. It often seems a shame that flowers are sent at a funeral rather than beforehand when they could truly be enjoyed. Many of the comments made at a funeral reflect the realization that we didn't express our feelings adequately to those we love while they were alive: "What a wonderful friend she was.” “I never told her how much I appreciated what she meant to me!" "I hope he realizes how much I loved him!"

If someone means something special to you, don't save it for the funeral. Share it with them now!

“Therefore comfort one another and edify one another, just as you are doing” (1 Thessalonians 5:11).