My husband Gaylon was a pastor for thirty-three years, and he dearly loved God’s people.  He was there for them through thick and thin.  Eventually, Gaylon became a chaplain, and though no longer a pastor, as a chaplain he was still very deeply involved in the lives of others. 

A woman who we will call “Ellie” came to our church on a Sunday morning and after the message, Gaylon led her in prayer, and she received Jesus as Savior.  Ellie was a visitor in town and would only be in our church that morning.  God had set up a divine appointment for her.   Since she was a one-time visitor, in all honesty, we did not remember her through the years.

One day we unexpectedly received a package from someone we did not know.  It was from Ellie.   She was able to track down where we were.  (Note:  there are not very many Gaylon Bentons in the world.)    She sent us some lovely items and a heartfelt letter thanking Gaylon for leading her to Jesus.   After more than twenty-five years she was still living a Christian life.   Hanging in my hallway, I have one of the pictures that Ellie sent us.  When my eye catches it, I am reminded of the great privilege of being used by God to bring life-change to another person. 

So often we hear about role models and heroes.  Throwing someone a lifeline when they are drowning is the best kind of hero one can be.  Christianity should not be passive.   You do not have to walk through fire or jump through hoops to be someone’s hero.  Just throw them a lifeline.    Sometimes that lifeline will be in the form of sharing the Gospel.  It might be in the area of a financial hardship. Other times, a person might be drowning in a sea of loneliness or a sea of discouragement.  There are so many ways to be a lifeline to people. 

I am so thankful for those who threw me a lifeline at times when I was drowning:

1. Margarita Poulos threw me the ultimate lifeline when she saw a dirty, sad little girl and introduced her to the Bible and to Jesus Christ.
2. Iverna Tompkins threw me a lifeline when I was a young, disillusioned pastor’s wife. Through her teachings, conversations, and visits with her, she taught me to grow strong in the Lord.  I was blessed with a great mentor.
3. A woman who on a Sunday morning at church noticed the ragged and torn shoes I was wearing.  Kids at school laughed at my shoes often. I was just a child, but she met me in the church yard and slipped money into my hand.  She simply said, “God wants you to have a new pair of shoes.”  That day was the beginning of my understanding that God noticed me and cared about me.
4. An anonymous hero who threw me the lifeline of college tuition when I was being forced to drop out of my Christian college due to lack of funds.  I do not know who paid that money, but it was truly a lifesaver.  I continued in my education and met my future husband the next year.
5. Gaylon Benton who was patient and loving to me during those early years of our marriage when I was an absolute mess.  I brought so much pain and baggage with me.  He truly was a hero that was used by God in my healing process.

I could continue listing people along the way who threw me lifelines.  There have been so many.   1 Peter 4:10 states, “As each one has received a special gift, employ it in serving on another as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.”

Who threw you a lifeline along the way, a lifeline that was life-changing?  Who had an impact on your life when it was needed?  An even greater question, “Who can you throw a lifeline to this week?”  There are drowning people all around us.  Let God use you to be someone’s hero.