Updated: October 18, 2008

June 5, 1926 - October 21, 2007

Patrick Henry, famous for the words, "Give me liberty or give me death," said in his will, "I am sorry that I have no more of this world's goods to leave to my children, but I leave them a heritage in Jesus Christ that makes them truly rich."

My mother, Dorothy Lavina (Walton) Hersman, went to be with Jesus, Sunday, October 21, 2007. She graduated from the blazing splendor of golden October leaves to the Streets of Purest Gold. In recent years she had been basically blind in one eye. I wonder what she is seeing now!

Although she was not born into a Christian home, she and her dad, went to the altar of a Wesleyan Methodist tent meeting when she was eight years old. The family was transformed, and she gave to us a rich heritage in Jesus Christ. Mamma kept baby books for each of her five children. In mine, she recorded her prayer that her little David would be a soul winner for Jesus. She never set me down, and said, "David, the most important book is the Bible," but I am sure by the time I was a toddler, I knew which Book she used and read the most!

I recall her Bibles, worn, marked, and with notes written in the margins. Her example taught me to love God's Word, and I was sitting outside reading my Bible in the autumn leaves when we received the news that she had gone to be with the Lord.

Dad pastored in three states while we were growing up - Pennsylvania, West Virginia, and Ohio. At most of these churches, Mom served as the Missionary President. We (five children) were born at five different pastorates, but we all graduated from the same high school in Ashtabula, Ohio, and Mom lived out the rest of her life in Northeast Ohio. She was 81.

Although our mission work took us 10,000 miles away, she never indicated she would rather we would stay close to home and to her. From her limited means, she actually sent faithful contributions to our work as long as she could.

Looking back to my childhood and early teen years, I see that Mamma had divine wisdom in her balance of firmness and tenderness. I probably would have perished in sin long ago if it had not been for her faithful prayers. Her love for the Lord, and for His Word helped me become established in the Lord Jesus Christ at a young age.

I have used my Mother's family as an example transforming power of the Grace of God. I have told hundreds (or thousands) of young people, that, "No matter kind of heritage was given to you, you can give your children an heritage in Jesus Christ." That is the greatest thing we can give our children, and without that, we have given them nothing but empty boxes.

I want my life, by God's grace, to illuminate the way for my children and grandchildren.
 

 "These are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name." (John 20:31)