Ruthie’s Ways
Part III
By Rob Goodwin
The black pug named Helix struggled to jump from the arms of Casey, one of Ruthie’s great-nephews, as the car carrying Ruthie Ellerby left her home in Trinity, Georgia. Her beloved pet and companion knew there was something wrong with Ruthie and replicated her emotions. Ruthie sat in the backseat behind her niece Gloria, with her other niece, Cheryl, guiding the charcoal gray Buick. With every open field the Buick passed, Ruthie whispered, “Jesus, help me get through this and get back to my home.”
The interstate was a mess. Ruthie had not been north of Trinity in a very long time, and she absolutely hated heavy traffic. Cheryl maneuvered through one jam after the other, and reached the cancer center in Atlanta after driving over four hours. Ruthie agreed to stay at the hospital for the first month so that her progress might be monitored. She felt fear and gratitude to be accepted into a special program. Her family decided to take turns, and Gloria would be staying the first three days. This reassured a tired and overwhelmed Ruthie. However, Ruthie still longed for that small mobile home surrounded by her land. She longed for Helix and all the children she helped to raise. She longed to be working in her garden.
For a lung cancer diagnosis, Ruthie seemed to be in good shape and the doctors became somewhat hopeful after the initial tests. The cancer center focused on building Ruthie’s strength, appetite, and immune system, while also targeting the cancer in her lungs. At first, Ruthie just stared off into space and then, almost by insistence from her caseworker, she began meeting the other men and women, all there to battle a horrendous disease, with very little hope for some. She listened to stories about why each person was fighting for their lives. Children, grandchildren, and spouses were all mentioned. When Ruthie took her turn to open up, her reasons were a little different. She never had a husband, a child or a grandchild. Of course she found great joy in her siblings and their children. She finally quipped, “I guess my reason is this, I just feel like…well, Jesus ain’t done with me yet.”
By day five, Ruthie began making new friends and introducing each of her family members, as they came and went. Her caregivers and medical team took notice that Ruthie had an abundance of support, which they felt was absolutely necessary in battling lung cancer. With a month behind her, Ruthie’s sister and her youngest daughter, sat in the room alongside Ruthie, as the doctor delivered the news that Ruthie was right on track with her treatment plan. The staff made appointments for Ruthie to see a physician in Albany, closer to home, and only return to Atlanta every three weeks.
The next four months, Ruthie thrived. She felt good, ate well, and received great reports from her doctors. She helped her loved ones plant a garden behind her home. Ruthie’s Pastor, Gary Johnson, suggested that Ruthie give testimony regarding her illness and her attitude about life. Ruthie had never been asked to speak in public, but instead of being nervous, her battle had actually made her confident. She stood in front of the congregation and proclaimed Jesus name. “He is present everywhere I am,” she testified. “When He’s ready for me, I’ll be ready for Him, but not until Gabriel sounds the call. Jesus ain’t done with me yet.” She followed up her testimony with a solo of “Midnight Cry”. One testimony turned into another. This church and that church offered Ruthie the chance to come and speak. Although she’d lived such a quiet life, it was also very diligent. Now Ruthie could see the rainbow in the cloud. She was ready for whatever Jesus had in store.
At her six-month checkup, Dr. Goldsmith noted, “The tumor is a lot smaller, you’re quite the fighter Ms. Ruthie.” Tears streamed down Ruthie’s face, along with Cheryl, Gloria, and other members of the family. Hugs and joyful hands raised praising Jesus, all over the room. Dr. Goldsmith turned to Cheryl and in a low voice said, “This is truly remarkable. The progress she’s achieved, and the fight within her is nothing short of amazing.” Cheryl choked back tears and replied, “That’s just Ruthie’s ways.”
To this day, Ruthie is sharing her story of faith and hope in small town congregations, all over Georgia. Helix comes along for the ride.
The End
Note from the writer:
Although Ruthie is a fictional character, her attributes were inspired by several strong women I have had the pleasure of knowing. The south is often portrayed incorrectly, and these days, so is faith. Ruthie is an example of realizing Jesus is everywhere we are, and that many Christians enjoy a special relationship with family and extended family, a bond that cannot be replicated by those who seek to disparage us. More southern short stories coming soon…
