By Ken Blue
My little boy came running in to show me a bug he’d found.
I was too busy with my own affairs just to turn around.
I wish I’d done that.
Another son came rushing home to tell of the game and score
But I was busy with my own things just like the times before.
I wish I’d done that.
I put my little girl in bed, she said, “daddy, let us pray.”
I said, “It’s getting late sweetheart, tomorrow’s a busy day.”
I wish I’d done that.
I spent five years in Bible College, working both day and night.
I had little time for wife or children; or to hold them tight.
I wish I’d done that.
My beloved mother said to me, “I love you,” every day.
I did not respond in kind to her, and now she’s gone away.
I wish I’d done that.
There are many pilgrims struggling along on life’s rocky road.
I could have shared a helpful hand, lightening their heavy load.
I wish I’d done that.
A man asked me of salvation and what it was all about.
“I must rush to a meeting; I’ll find someone to help you out.”
I wish I’d done that.
Its judgment time for me now, I find much wood, stubble, and hay.
The opportunities that I had are burned and drift away.
I wish I’d done that.
And now I say, to friends and family as we approach the line,
I love you, and I wanted to tell you while there was still time.
I’m glad I did that.
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Pastor Ken Blue was born in Boswell, Ark. In 1955 he accepted Christ as his Savior. He and his wife Joyce were married in 1955. They have 5 children. He graduated from Midwestern Baptist Bible College in 1969 and started the Open Door Baptist Church in Lynnwood, Wa. where he pastored for 39 years. Because of health issues (ALS) he was forced to resign as pastor. It is his desire to continue to be used of God to help pastors and believers through this ministry.
Pastor……this really touched my heart. It seems that these things are only thought of as we near the end of our road here on earth. It now seems that I understand why they say that life is wasted on the youth.
There is no one that has lived their life and can say I have no regrets. I know I can’t. Life is so full of learning experiences and it seems the lessons we learned the best come from regrets or mistakes.
I will take this opportunity to let you know how much I love you and Mrs. Blue and appreciate so much the things you taught me from Gods word, and the things Mrs. Blue taught my by her Godly example.
You may feel like you have much wood, hay, and stuble, but only God can reveal to you how much gold, silver, and precious stones you also have.
I will try to remember this little blog so hopefully I can say at the end of each day “I’m glad I did that”.
My thanks to you and Mrs. Blue for the wonderful evening we had with the two of you and David. I do hope that there can be more times like that.
Hello Pastor Blue,
What a very inspiring and heart inspiring poem. Yes, I wish i done that ……….
I want you to know that I’m so thankful to God that He lead me to opendoor. I got saved at Opendoor and I will always be thinking about you and Mrs. Blue.
Very good job on the poem and i know that i will always spread this to others…. I wish i done that. Take care always and please say hello to Mrs. Blue.
Pastor, Thank you for sharing your heart in this poem. I love you and I am glad I said that! Your family, friends and even strangers know that you love them. I remember the first time I meet you (40 years ago). You looked into my eyes and I felt you reached down into my soul with love. Jesus! Over the years I have always seen that love for people in your eyes. No man can feel that Love for People without the Love of Jesus in them. Thank you for opening your Heart and Soul to Jesus and then sharing that LOVE with all of us. I also remember the first time I realized that you were human. Thank you for that. Being Human! That is when I fell in LOVE with the LORD JESUS CHRIST.
Thank you Raydine. God is so good to all of us. Tell your family we love them.
Pastor i have been dog tired and Christian strolls into our bedroom, i get this feeling he wants me to put him to bed, but wont say so, you know he is a teen and there to cool for school, but none the less, my boy needs his mama, i take every ounce of what energy i have left, and i not only go tuck him in, but this is the time he likes to open up, so quick it wont be but wrapping myself in that monent with my son is so amazing, & i say to myself on my way down the hall, back to our bedroom “I am glad I did it” I want to enjoy every moment with the ones I love!
Lo
We love the Blue family!
That really touched my heart. I have way too many of those in my life. I have tried to change that and this was such a good reminder.
I want you to know how much you and Mrs. Blue mean to me and my family. I know you can’t really know, but trust me it is so special! Raydine said it beautifully.
You know everytime I see you I tell you I love you….with a big lump in my throat!! “I’m glad I’ve done that”.
Thank you Pastor, for all that you’ve taught me. I love you…..
Pastor,
I think this thought often. I’m so thankful you and Mrs. Blue went made the sacrifices you did and followed the steps the Lord laid down for you. It has been nearly 40 years since I accepted Christ. I was 14 years old. I remember finding a Bible that belonged to my Aunt Becky and reading the book of Ruth. I had a hunger to know more about God. I spent the weekend with my cousin Kim and went to church on the bus with her. I heard you preach the plan of salvation and right away I knew that’s what I needed. From the first day I was saved I wanted to learn more and I wanted to share it with my family and friends. My life was changed that day at Open Door Baptist Church forever.
I am a first generation Christian but my children are all saved and love the Lord and are living for Him. We have a grandchild coming in September and I can’t wait to get to know him and tell him how much Jesus loves him.
You know the life we led as children and what the Lord saved us from. I was really never nurtured as a child but my mother loved me and I never doubted that. In many ways she was more the child and we were the adults. My father was never in my life. He was so broken over the divorce he couldn’t bear to be around us. We were in a way abandoned. But, looking back on my life I don’t dwell on the bad. Most of my thoughts go back to the day you told me that Jesus loves me. I can honestly say I have never felt unloved since that day. I also remember you saying that God was a father to the fatherless. At times I feel like that spoiled, favored child that everyone is jealous of. God is so good to me and I love Him so much.
I am just one story and my family is just one family. There are so many more stories and so many families.
Your family knows that you love them. My children have been in this whirlwind of a life for all of their lives. They know we love them. They are adults and they have to choose the course of their lives…whom they will serve. We haven’t been perfect parents by far. We have just loved them and loved God and served Him. What they do with their lives is up to them.
What if you and Mrs. Blue had come to Lynnwood Washington just for us? But that isn’t the story. Many more lives and families have been touched by your obedience to God. We will love you and be grateful to you forever.
Becky
Becky, thank you so much for your encouraging comments. Joyce and I love you and your family as our own. Some of the best memories of my life center around those first few years at Open Door when you girls came and were saved. My heart is full! If all God ever did through our ministry was the salvation of you and your family, it would have been worth it all. Shortly we will see Him who loved us and gave Himself for us. Won’t it be wonderful just to bow and kiss His feet? He is our life and hope. Becky, know that you are not only loved by the Lord, you are loved by the Blue family.
Joye and I Love you,
There were so many wonderful years at ODBC I am thankful for the SS ministry and the Revivals and Just having you and Joyce as forever friends in Christ. Thank you so much!
Pastor,
I remember the first Sunday we visited ODBC. We were new to the area. John had not yet started pastoring in West Seattle.
You were in an attendance contest..Army vs Navy. You were wearing an army cap. The church was meeting in the basement.
Our little niece was visiting with us. Mrs. Stillman was her teacher. Pammy, our niece, prayed and asked Jesus into her heart. She was excited to tell us all about it. I am grateful.
Later, ODBC became our home church. It’s ministry was a haven to us during a very difficult time. (Our youngest grandchild is named Haven).
So I join so many others in saying to you and Mrs. Blue, THANK YOU for your faithful!
I love reading this blog. I have continued to learn from you.
My kids and I discuss some of the blogs. Great fun.
Thank you, we love your family