Today's Faith Becomes Tomorrow's Harvest

For a parent, 3 John 1:4 (ESV) says it all: “I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth.”

Now, I realize that the Apostle John wrote these words to Gaius, one of the church leaders in Asia Minor, but they still speak volumes on the testimony of a life lived for Jesus.

So, a few weeks ago, when Kyle Verrell shared the following blog about our son during morning devotion with fellow staff members at American Family Association, my tears fell and mingled with the joy that John spoke of so long ago.

I pray these words will minister to others as well. But most of all, I pray that Kyle’s blog inspires each of us to consistently “walk in the truth” and be a light that guides people to our precious Savior.

Chris Lucius

I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Marvelous are Your works, and that my soul knows very well (Psalms 139:14 NJKV).

When thinking about my friend, Chris Lucius, I am always overwhelmed with emotions. When I first met Chris, we were basically enemies playing for different baseball teams. He played at Mooreville High School (which I hated, mostly because they were always good), and I played at New Albany High School. But we never really knew each other in high school until one of the all-star games for seniors where we officially met. 

What was shocking to me was that once we did finally meet, I didn’t really hate him at all. To be honest, we were a lot alike. We were both very competitive and absolutely hated to lose. 

After high school, Chris was going to play for a college in Alabama called Stillman. I, on the other hand, was going to Northeast Community College. The first year of college went by, then during the summer before the start of the next year, we got a new coach at Northeast.  Also, there were some new players coming in, and lo and behold, Chris was one of them. 

A couple of buddies and I had a house in Booneville and needed another roommate.  One of the guys living with me knew Chris was coming and needed a place to live. So, Chris moved in, and bless his heart, he had no idea what he was getting into. That house was the Party Central. Anytime there was an opportunity to have a party, that’s what we were doing. Chris, on the other hand, was not about that life. 

When I take a step back and look at how Chris was then, it’s pretty impressive for a kid who was 19 years old, in his own house with three other guys, and yet Chris never, to my knowledge, gave in to any kind of peer pressure. But back then, I thought he was just a party pooper. Now, looking back, he was nothing more than a good Christian kid who was grounded in his ways and always stayed true to that. Chris truly was wise beyond his years. For that reason, he and I butted heads a good bit because, at the time, I was completely lost with my life, and Chris knew who he was.

Fast forward to years later, and my oldest child was about to start junior high baseball at East Union Attendance Center. When talking to my son Mason, I asked who his coaches were, and he said, “Coach Lucius.”

“Wait a minute,” I paused and asked, “Chris Lucius?”

He confirmed that Chris indeed was going to be his coach. I had a mixture of emotions knowing Chris was going to be his coach because Chris knew who I used to be, and I was honestly embarrassed to be around him. I thought that he would judge me by how I used to be and not the man I am today. 

To my surprise, that’s not how Chris received me at all. The first time I saw him coaching my boy and had a chance to talk to him, Chris shook my hand, gave me a hug, and asked how I was. He never once judged me on who I used to be.

He coached Mason for two years, and Mason absolutely loved Chris. I knew he would, because I knew how Chris was and how good of a guy he was. Chris could’ve easily judged me and judged my son just from how I used to be, but he didn’t. He took Mason in as one of the boys and never looked at him any different. 

I apologized to Chris one day for how I used to be, and he just blew it off.

He told me, “Man, there’s nothing to be sorry for. We were just young kids.” 

Once again, I was blown away at how Chris looked at me for who I am now, not who I was. The truth is, a lot of people from that time in my life still looked at me for who I was in the past. 

So, when Chris got sick, I was just heartbroken. He didn’t deserve that.  Not even a little bit. There was never a doubt in my mind, though, that Chris was going to fight. I knew he was about to give cancer all it wanted and then some.  

And that he did! 

The whole time Chris was fighting his cancer, he stayed true to who he was and always stayed grounded and strong in Christ. I’ve known Chris Lucius for 18 years, and he never wavered on who he was. But I never understood that about him until I got saved myself in 2017. 

The Scripture that I used at the beginning of this blog was from one of the last posts that Chris made while sharing a little devotion of his own. It made me stop and look back at our relationship. I’ve always admired him and was envious of what he had. What I didn’t know was that what he had was the Lord. 

To see someone going through what all Chris was going through and still be sharing devotions and praising the Lord is amazing and such a blessing to all Christians. He had every reason in this world to complain and bicker, but nope, not Chris Lucius. He wasn’t going to let cancer steal his joy or love for Christ. 

He has made such an impact on my life, even though we were never really “close” – but that was all my fault. Back in college, I didn’t really want to be with Chris because he wasn’t about the life that I was living. I regret that; I really do. But all I can do is look forward and be the best me that I can be now. 

I’ll forever admire and look up to the life that Chris lived. His story of faithfulness and strength will stay with me all my life. Honestly, Chris Lucius is the type of man that we all would love for our kids to grow up and be like. He was a great role model for my kid, and I hope and pray that some of Chris rubbed off on Mason. 

The only thing with Chris that I do regret recently was the day he came up here to AFA to see his parents. It was about time for me to leave, and I saw him walking towards one door as I was going out the other door to get in my truck. 

I said to myself, “I need to go talk to him,” but I really needed to go pick up my kids too. Looking back, my kids would’ve been alright for 20-30 more minutes at daycare so that Chris and I could have chatted. I do regret that moment because it was the last time I saw him. 

But there is coming a day when I know for a fact that I will see Chris again because there is no doubt in my mind that he is in heaven, pain-free with his dimples showing, and he’s grinning from ear to ear, praising our Lord and Savior! 

I’ll end with this: I cherish the fact that I did know Chris. He was a blessing to everyone that knew him. He was a leader; he was a fierce competitor; and he loved the Lord. He lived his life here on earth to the fullest. I’m forever grateful for the impact that he has made on my life. He was truly one of the good guys.

Blog author Kyle Verrell

A note from Joy:

Wow, as the mother of Chris Lucius, this tribute makes my heart smile. But more than that, it makes me want to encourage other young believers to stand firm in their walk with Christ.

For even on those hardest days, the impact of how you handle those tough times may last longer and reach farther than you can imagine right now.