JUNE 2002

  June 15, 2002

Leading in the Right Direction

Paul came to my office dejected after meeting his friend for lunch.  Three years ago the doctors told his friend that he had liver disease and he had to change a few things in his lifestyle if he wanted to live longer.  His response was to scoff at the doctors and drink all the more.  Now three years later he is on death’s door.  Paul said it was as if the man put a gun to his head three years ago and pulled the trigger.  It is just taking the bullet a while to get there.

I also went to a funeral about a week ago of a lady named Lucy Mabery. The contrast could not have been wider.  Northwest Bible Church was packed to the gills.  The people there were a who’s who of Dallas Christians.  Dr. Howard Hendricks gave the opening the prayer and a wonderful opera singer sang, “It Is Well with my Soul”.  Dr. Charles Swindoll gave the message and it was powerful.  Not that the message was special, but the lady was.

Lucy was married to a famous surgeon in Dallas; Dr. Trevor Mabery.  At one point he had even fixed Dr. Swindoll’s nose. Dr. Mabery was very active with Focus on the Family. He was on their board of directors. In 1987 there was a terrible private plane crash that took Dr. Mabery’s life along with three other prominent Dallas Christians.  Focus on the Family memorialized them in a now famous painting of four men on horseback leading the way.

Lucy and her family survived that bitter loss and she continued to grow in Christ.  She already had a vibrant walk with the Lord but wanted to do more.  At the time of her husband’s death she was already in school. She was awarded a master’s degree from Dallas theological seminary.  She continued her schooling and received her doctorate with the goal of being the first woman professor at DTS.  It was not long before she did indeed become the first woman professor in the history of DTS.  It was at a time when many thought that a woman should not teach there.  But her demeanor and life was so Christ-like that it did not take long for her to become one of the most popular professors there.  In her success she always remained humble.  For example; Dr. Swindoll asked if that first year was tough.  “No, not really,” she said, “Whenever I met a critic, I would invite them to lunch.  It is hard to be mad at someone who pays for your lunch.”  Also, she said, she won an award at the end of that year.  “Really,” Chuck said, “what kind of award?”  “I won the best-dressed female faculty member in the whole school.”  With that she threw her head back and laughed.  That was her style.  She did not bang the table and demand her rights.  She was wonderful and winsome.

Years later when Dr. Swindoll was asked to lead DTS, he wanted a copy of the now famous painting of the four horsemen.  He began to scour shops looking for the painting but just could not get one.  Finally one day he said in passing to Lucy that he was looking for the painting.  “Oh”, she said, “I know where I can get one, I will bring it by tomorrow”.  True to her word she presented it to him the next day.  “Where did you find it?  I have been looking everywhere for this,” he said.  “I found it under my bed”, was her reply.      It was her copy.

“Oh No, I couldn’t possible take your copy”, he said!  “Oh, you can…. and you will”, she said with a twinkle in her eye.  At this point in the sermon, he looked toward the family and said, “As only Lucy could say.”  In response I watched all the heads in the family nodding.  You see Lucy also enjoyed being very generous.

He continued the story.  “Are you sure you can do without it?”  Her response was typical of Lucy.  She said, “I’d rather have Jesus”.  That has been her response her whole life long.  She really lived the phrase “I’d rather have Jesus” in every area of life. As the service concluded we sang the song  “I’d rather have Jesus” and I will never be the same.

I followed the funeral procession to the graveside.  The president of DTS Mark Bailey had cut his trip short in Chicago just so he could say a few words at the graveside.  Then I found Lucy’s son, Dan, who is my friend.  I hugged his neck and we cried together.  I said I was sorry and we cried some more. I said I did not know his mother well but I will never sing the song “I’d rather have Jesus” without thinking of her.

All the way home I was singing “I’d Rather Have Jesus”,

I'd Rather Have Jesus

by Rhea Miller

Then I paused… Would I really rather have Jesus?… YES I WOULD!  I would really rather have Jesus than my own way because my own way might be the way that Paul’s friend has chosen.  I could easily be a bitter man digging in my heels demanding my rights and waste my life. Or I could follow Lucy’s example.  It is hard to argue with a life so well lived!  Thank you Lucy for showing us the way.

Dr. LUCY L. MABERY-FOSTER

For more information about this remarkable lady please see her story at the DTS site.  www.dts.edu

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