For about 3-4 months I have been saying that I just entered the last quarter of my earth life! (My 75th birthday was in July). Yes, I want to live until at least 100. That is if I can do it with the grace of my new friend, Frances Allen. She turned 100 on October 25th and many of her family and friends helped her celebrate this past weekend. I was able to spend a few minutes with her last week along with two of her nieces. 

I made this connection through one of her long time prayer partners, Brenda. Of course prayer is very high on my list of subjects I love to read and write about. I also love to participate in prayer both individually and with a few other small groups of people. Prayer changes us and prayer can change history itself.

Our conversation began with me asking her about her prayer life. She reflected back to the time she was three years old. She saw one of her neighbors on his knees when she followed him to an old house where he entered and got down on his knees. I assume she was looking through the window like any curious three year old. When she asked her mother what the man was doing, she told her he had recently lost his mother and was probably talking to the Lord about her. It obviously made an impression on her. Frances keeps a prayer journal and I am sure has filled up many pages of her journals over the years praying for family and friends. She said “I don’t pray for myself.” But she has made prayer a regular part of her life both in the privacy of her home and with a few other friends that she prays with regularly. 

Frances got saved when she was 16 years old. A lifelong Nazarene, she attended several Nazarene colleges and then began her life as a missionary to the Indians in Colony, Oklahoma for sixteen months. She worked with 6th graders teaching them math. 

She started her work at Quincy City Hospital before coming to Archbold Memorial Hospital in 1956 working as a medical technologist. Frances says she never would have gone to college had it not been for her salvation and her strong Nazarene beliefs. She stayed at Archbold until she retired.

Frances is still an avid reader, especially enjoying poetry. Her roommate in college was the author of many books and poetry and may have influenced her love for reading. During our conversation she began to quote an old hymn that I vaguely recognized. She got out her trusty Nazarene hymnal which was right next to her along with her Bible and other reading material. She turned to that hymn and began to read the verses! Charles Wesley not only influenced the Methodists, where his brother John began his amazing influence on the Christian church, but also many of his over 6000 hymns found their way into other hymnals.  The hymn – A Charge to Keep I Have – is sung by many today. “A charge to keep I have, A God to glorify, A never-dying soul to save, And fit it for the sky. (v2) To serve the present age, My calling to fulfill; Oh, may it all my pow’rs engage, To do my Master’s will. (v3)Arm me with watchful care As in Thy sight to live, And now Thy servant, Lord, prepare A strict account to give! (v4) Help me to watch and pray And still on Thee rely, Oh, let me not my trust betray, But press to realms on high.” My African American pastor friend, Curnell Henry, quotes the second verse almost every time we have occasion to pray together. It is in the African American ecumenical hymnal as well!! Wesley’s theology and doxology comes through his hymn writing in powerful ways and certainly crossed denominational lines.

Part of my regular reading of scriptures found me in Psalm 139 the day I went to visit Frances. I found out that is her favorite chapter in the Bible! Mine too! I quote from it often in my articles because David recognized just how special he was to God who “formed him in his mother’s womb” and that he was “fearfully and wonderfully made”. She told me – “some days I just don’t get enough of the Word.” Several of her favorite portions include the Love chapter in 1 Corinthians 13 and the Sermon on the Mount.

She has been a faithful member of the First Church of the Nazarenes in Thomasville since she moved here and has held many positions in the church. Part of the information in this article comes from a compilation made for the church of the senior members at the time it was written. At the conclusion of the information about Frances, she was quoted: “I am what I am because of Christ; without Him I am nothing. I give God the entire credit for my life.” I feel quite certain when her day of graduation comes, she will hear her Master say; “Well done!”

We do not know how long each of us will be on this earth. Some, like Z.J. Lewis, moved to his next assignment (someone called it an upgrade – I most definitely agree) when he was just 14 years old. He was not sick, loved life, and was an amazing influence not only with his peers but also with many others. Zach and Leah have shared a few amazing stories they have gotten from those who were influenced by this godly young man. Each one of us has an “appointment” or an appointed day when we will be absent from the body and be present with the Lord. 

Frances on the other hand has had a long-life assignment. When you think about how much has happened in our world in the last 100 years and the influence of one life well lived, only eternity will tell of the many lives that Frances has impacted as she lived her life to honor her Savior.

My desire is to live each day like both Z.J. and Frances – influencing others by a life well lived. We all have different gifts and talents which the Lord has given us to bless mankind. You may not think that your life matters but you have no idea who is watching you and being influenced by you. May we all be inspired and challenged to live each day as though it was our last. Sunday morning Z.J. Lewis had no idea he was about to have an appointment to meet his Savior that afternoon. Frances has now lived 100 years and will live until her appointment with her Savior is called forth. May the Lord be able to meet you on your appointed day saying to you “Well done, good and faithful servant. Enter into the joy of your Master.”