A MATTER OF PERSPECTIVE Wonderful Gifts: Mary Jim, Jesus and Princess
By David R. Currie,
executive director

Mary Jim Patton Currie, my mother and an incredible “ball of energy and life” turned 85 years old on March 27. My sweet sister Carolyn had the wisdom to recognize that this indeed was a special occasion and that a community-wide birthday party was in order. So on March 30, we had an outstanding party in Paint Rock.

Her sister, Jewette McLaughlin, known by many of you, came for the party along with her daughter Sheila and her family. Many people drove hours to attend the party, including Mother’s best friend from Lubbock. Carolyn’s children came, as well as my sons, Lance and Chad. A very important guest was Dr. Sterling Gillis, who saved mother’s life in 1963 when her heart stopped for fifteen minutes on the operating table. It was a glorious day of celebration for us.

Carolyn and I had sent letters to many people inviting them to write a “memory” letter to mother. Some well-known people like Charles Wade, Herbert Reynolds and Phil Strickland wrote. Many letters came from former pastors of the First Baptist Church of Paint Rock. As special as it was to see everyone, this unexpected occurrence was very moving to us.

As I read the letters that day, a common theme was found in many of the letters.

They said things like:

“I first met Mary Jim in church in 1935.”

“I first met Mary Jim when she came to my house and invited me to church in 1940.”

“I have not known Mary Jim long, but I am so grateful she is my Sunday School teacher.”

“You have always lived your life following Jesus.”

“Some of my fondest memories of Mary Jim are all church related. We worked together in the elementary department for years along with Bible School, summer camps, WMU and Sunday School.”

“I moved to Paint Rock in 1945 and you were among the first people I remember meeting at the Baptist church. You were very active in the church back then and you have remained to this day.”

“To me, Paint Rock, Mary Jim and the First Baptist Church are synonymous.”

“Your love for Christ, for your family, for your church and community inspired others to live better lives for Christ.”

Throughout the letters was a reoccurring theme, “Mary Jim, Jesus and church.”

I believe that people miss so much when they are not involved in their local church. Sure, every church has problems because a church is comprised of human beings with sinful natures. Even so, the church, the Body of Christ, is still a most wonderful gift to us all. If every person attended church regularly, what a totally different world we would live in.

Our family life has always revolved around “Jesus and Church.” I cannot remember missing church for any length of time. My mind has an abundance of memories related to family prayers and how important church was to my family. Often on a Sunday night in Paint Rock, half of the congregation in attendance was related to me. Today, Mother is the only Currie/Patton relation that is a member of the First Baptist Church in Paint Rock. All the others have gone on to heaven.

I am grateful for the gift of my mother. She can nag with the best of them. Mary Jim can talk non-stop for hours, often changing thoughts in mid-sentence, but she is such an example of a strong faith in Jesus Christ and His church. She is a wonderful example of Christian motherhood. Mary Jim loves her children unconditionally.

A couple of weeks after mother’s party, Princess, our wonderfully worthless dog died. Our Princess was named after my daddy’s little terrier that he loved very much.

My dad was quite ill and that little dog never left his side. I will never forget calling home in 1987, asking Dad how he was, and hearing him reply, “Not too good, my dog was run over.” When Mother came in, Dad had removed his oxygen, walked out to the road to bring his little Princess into the house, so he could clean her up for burial. We still keep a small fence around her grave in Paint Rock.

When our Princess died, Loretta, Mother, and I took her to the ranch and gave her a proper funeral. We dug a grave, laid her in a box, placed a blanket over her and buried her through our tears. I read Proverbs 27:18, “He who tends a fig tree will eat its fruit, and he who looks after his master will be honored.” I also read Proverbs 14:10, “Each heart knows its own bitterness, and no one else can share its joy.”

Then we held hands, prayed and thanked God for Princess and the joy she brought our family over the years.

Lance, Chad and I chose Princess out of all the dogs at the animal shelter during Spring Break in 1990. She was a collie mix, with beautiful golden hair and black highlights. She loved everyone and though we had her spayed, mothered every animal she was around. Baby kittens, baby lambs or kid goats from the ranch that needed extra care would sleep next to Princess. One year she raised a fawn.

She minded obediently and loved the ranch. Yet, she was worthless in many ways. Working sheep, she would just stand in the gate, and she just barked at cows. She would not retrieve anything, never liked to lick anyone, but children could play all over her at any given time. To me, Princess had a personality that is characteristic of the body of Christ. She loved everyone, tried to help everyone and got along with everyone. We should be able to do that, as Jesus did, get along with everyone.

There is not a deep theological point to make with this “perspective.” I am grateful for my Mother, for twelve years with Princess, for the church, the body of Christ and all it has meant to my family. Let me express my gratitude for all who have read my musings over the years and for the fact that we are a family of Baptists who care deeply about remaining free.

June 2002