January 31, 1870

Every time I hear the story of Simeon welcoming the infant Jesus in the temple, my thoughts turn to the entries my great-great Grandfather Martin M. Hester made in his diary. It was 144 years ago in the deep midwinter.  Martin and his family were attending revival meetings at their church. Those were days when someone needed to arrive early enough before the meetings to get a fire going in the stove.  They likely traveled by sleigh.

In the entry for Friday Jan 28, 1870 he preserved there the words of his father (also Martin Hester) speaking to the congregation.... "Father spoke with much feeling, That God had preserved his life for more than 82 years and crowned all his life with blessing and that all his children and many of his grandchildren were Christians. He felt like Simeon of old, 'Now Lord let thy servant depart in peace.' [referencing Luke 2: 25-32 http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke+2%3A+25-35&version=NIV ].

The next day ..... "Toward eve Father had a stroke..... He fell from North door of wagon house and found him about ½ past 3 o’clock."  Two days later he died.

"Monday, January 31 - Took care of Father all day. At 6 o’clock in the Eve he died in great peace. Had not spoken for 48 hours but had left a clear testimony in the church of his evidence of the love of God in his heart...."

The full text for the diary entries and the intriguing details can be found in an earlier blog post here:
http://firstlightofdawn.blogspot.com/2010/01/january-31-1870.html

Martin and his brother went to town in the sleigh to purchase a coffin. The body was laid out at their home and services were held there.  The text for the funeral sermon was Numbers 23:10. "Let me die the death of the righteous, and may my end be like theirs!" 

Amen and amen.