“For your husband is your Maker, whose name is the LORD of hosts; and your Redeemer is the Holy One of Israel, who is called the God of all the earth” [Isaiah 54: 5]. What does Isaiah 54: 5 mean to a 100 year old, African American woman from Mississippi? The answer could really make you see your circumstance the way God intends. “Married to Jesus?” is the story of one woman who saw more in herself than the world saw in her. Ella Mae Cole was a frail, elderly Christian woman who had it all when others thought she did not have much. She gave freely to others even when she didn’t have enough for herself. She was never married and never had any children of her own. She was the last surviving child of a family of fourteen children. And that could be the reason why she was so quick to tell others that she had seen more people buried in her lifetime than she had seen born. The story of Ella Mae Cole is definitely one good illustration of what Christians’ way of thinking about life’s circumstances should be.
As the story was told, a young preacher came to serve at the church where Ms. Ella Mae had been a member for most of her life. This young preacher looked forward to paying weekly visits to Ms. Ella Mae. And it was during one of those visits that our story took place. On the particular day, the young preacher asked Ms. Ella Mae, “Mother, you are 100 years old and I’ve wanted to ask you. [Pause] Is there anything that you would have liked God to bless you with that He didn’t?” With her head down, and in her usually soft but tired voice, she replied, “None pastor. I’m completely blessed.” The young preacher paused for a moment and then decided to push a little bit further into Ms. Ella Mae’s memory bank. “I know you are blessed. [Pause].I mean you have never been married. Every woman wants a man to love her, someone to put food on her table and so on”. And on that note Ms. Ella Mae looked up, looked the young preacher straight in his eyes and snapped, “I’ve been married 80 years”! This time her voice carried more punch than her usual, age weakened voice. Married? She was definitely senile for someone who had lived for 100 years. At least that was what the young preacher thought. Everyone knew Ms. Ella Mae had never been married even for a day. Ms. Ella Mae continued, “Oh yes, I know what you thinking. I’ve been married 80 long years. My husband he loves me. He is faithful to me. He puts food on my table. He keeps me warm when I’m cold at night. He keeps me safe at night and be there in the morning time, in the noon time, and in the night time. My husband liveth for ever and I ain’t got to worry about him dying. His name is Jesus. I’ve been married to him 80 years and he ain’t ever let me down and he ain’t about to.” The young preacher wondered why he had not thought about that.
A frail, elderly, 100 year-old Christian woman refused to see her circumstance through the eyes of the world but rather through the eyes of God. She had her assurance of faith in the person and power of the Lord. To Ella Mae Cole, Jesus was everything, even the husband she never had.
K. George Olubodun
As the story was told, a young preacher came to serve at the church where Ms. Ella Mae had been a member for most of her life. This young preacher looked forward to paying weekly visits to Ms. Ella Mae. And it was during one of those visits that our story took place. On the particular day, the young preacher asked Ms. Ella Mae, “Mother, you are 100 years old and I’ve wanted to ask you. [Pause] Is there anything that you would have liked God to bless you with that He didn’t?” With her head down, and in her usually soft but tired voice, she replied, “None pastor. I’m completely blessed.” The young preacher paused for a moment and then decided to push a little bit further into Ms. Ella Mae’s memory bank. “I know you are blessed. [Pause].I mean you have never been married. Every woman wants a man to love her, someone to put food on her table and so on”. And on that note Ms. Ella Mae looked up, looked the young preacher straight in his eyes and snapped, “I’ve been married 80 years”! This time her voice carried more punch than her usual, age weakened voice. Married? She was definitely senile for someone who had lived for 100 years. At least that was what the young preacher thought. Everyone knew Ms. Ella Mae had never been married even for a day. Ms. Ella Mae continued, “Oh yes, I know what you thinking. I’ve been married 80 long years. My husband he loves me. He is faithful to me. He puts food on my table. He keeps me warm when I’m cold at night. He keeps me safe at night and be there in the morning time, in the noon time, and in the night time. My husband liveth for ever and I ain’t got to worry about him dying. His name is Jesus. I’ve been married to him 80 years and he ain’t ever let me down and he ain’t about to.” The young preacher wondered why he had not thought about that.
A frail, elderly, 100 year-old Christian woman refused to see her circumstance through the eyes of the world but rather through the eyes of God. She had her assurance of faith in the person and power of the Lord. To Ella Mae Cole, Jesus was everything, even the husband she never had.
K. George Olubodun
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