When my husband suffered a heart attack Mother's Day morning five months ago, Scott Askew was one of the first to come to the hospital. Day after day he came. He prayed with us. He checked on us. He, along with other church friends, sat with me all day the day of my husband's open-heart surgery for 5 bypasses. Each day he came to visit or called to check on us then relayed information to others.
When he discovered how difficult our financial situation was, he gave monetarily. He went to the grocery and picked up things we didn't even ask for. He made it his responsibility to pick up our 1994 Chevy Astro and have the exhaust system repaired, the brakes fixed, an oil change. He assured us that it was not coming out of his pocket, but others had donated to help pay for the expense of it all.
He brought my husband movies and Gaither praise tapes to watch as he sat recuperating. He made it his sole responsibility to mow and weedeat our lawn. That's right. For over four months, now, he has come and cared for our lawn. Last week he came and trimmed out a branch from one of our pecan trees that had been broken by a storm and was dragging the ground. He cut it in pieces, and hauled it to the curb.
On top of all that, he took on the responsibility of teaching my husband's Adult Sunday School class till he is able to return. Why? What is so special about us? I don't know. All I know is Scott Askew, disabled due to diabetes, at age 60, and living on a fixed retirement income says it is his way of ministering. He says he is returning to the Lord what the Lord did for him when he was under tremendous health and financial needs. He says he doesn't want my husband, who now lives with congestive heart failure, to have another heart attack.
One might think, "how kind, how benevolent! What a friend he is!" But I want to say that this goes beyond the first mile of being a servant of the Lord. Scott also helps with the Angel Food Ministry each month when they unload the 18-wheeler, sort boxes of food and place them into waiting vehicles of those who have purchased the affordable groceries. He buys food and gives it away. He tends his grandchildren and is a devoted dad. When one of our servicemen was in Iraq, he made sure to mow his acreage for his wife. He helps the kitchen folk clean up after Wednesday meals at church. He lends his hands in service in every way imaginable.
I'd love to be able to share all Scott is to others--I simply do not know all he does. But from what little I do know of him, I see a servant of God. Scott defines minister--in every sense of the word. Don't you think? selahV
I would agree, Selah, that Scott defines minister in every sense of the word. Thank you for sharing this very uplifting story of brothers helping brothers/sisters in need. This is true Christlikenss.
Love,
Rose
Posted by: Ramblin' Rose | October 06, 2007 at 08:38 PM
SelahV, you have been through so much!
It is amazing how the Life of Christ is manifest and shared from one brother/sister to another. Your brother, Scott, is a shining example of one who has turned over the controls of his life to the One who IS Life.
Has your husband's health improved much? I pray that the LORD will pour out His healing rain upon him and raise him up to new heights in Christ!
Posted by: marie | October 07, 2007 at 02:19 PM
You know Marie, I've been amazed at how marvelously God has walked with us every step of the way in the past few years. And it is because so many of the people we are blessed to fellowship with have held our hands and lifted us in prayer.
We are so very humbled by the love God shows us through them.
Bob is doing some better, but tires really easily. That will always be part of his life as far as we can tell. His surgeon told us that what he felt like 5 to 6 months out would tell us the story of the quality of life he will have. We are grateful for what we have. Truly. selahV
Posted by: selahV | October 07, 2007 at 02:29 PM
God bless you selahV!
Posted by: marie | October 07, 2007 at 04:15 PM