Shonda Lemon has worked as a mail carrier for the United States Postal Service for eight years in the city of Chicago.  While delivering mail to individuals, she has built a relationship with many of the recipients, especially some senior citizens who live alone.  89-year-old Helen Iwanski is one of those senior citizens that Lemon has befriended.  In the last four years, the two have exchanged short, friendly conversations.  Lemon has tried to make it easier for Iwanski to handle her bundle of mail more easily by wrapping a rubber band around it.

But for three days in a row last month, Iwanski had not picked up her mail.  Lemon was very concerned. 

Lemon told Fox Television Stations' Stephanie Weaver that she knew Iwanski lived alone, didn’t have children, and hadn’t traveled anywhere in years, so she called the police to do a wellness check on January 14.

Police found Iwanski on the floor in her home.  She had fallen and had been lying there for several days.

When a police officer told Lemon that Iwanski had fallen but was alive, she broke into tears.  “I began to cry, because it was a rejoicing moment for me, knowing that I had assisted her in [saving] her life,” Lemon explained. “And, ya know, it was just the pain and thought of what she may have been going through for those three days on the floor.”

Iwanski was admitted to a local hospital and is currently regaining her strength at a rehab facility.  She is incredibly thankful for her caring mail carrier.

“My Aunt [Helen Iwanski] sends her love and appreciation to Shonda for being there for her.  She said she will be forever grateful for Shonda caring enough to call the police," said Mary Mason, Iwanski’s niece.

Each of us has “fallen” because of our sins.  We are helpless and cannot save ourselves.

But God loves us so much that He sent His one and only Son to rescue us (John 3:16).  Jesus had to give His life for us to pay the price for our redemption from sin (2 Corinthians 5:21).  He “gave Himself for our sins to rescue us from the present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father, to Whom be glory forever and ever.  Amen” (Galatians 1:4-5 NIV).  Jesus cared enough to carry the burden of our sins upon Himself (1 Peter 2:24), to save us.

If we will only accept His offer of salvation, He will cleanse us from sin and give us eternal life (Ephesians 1:7).

God will save and give eternal life to those who place their faith and trust in Jesus (Acts 16:30-31), turn from their sins in repentance (Acts 17:30-31), confess Jesus before men (Romans 10:9-10), and are baptized (immersed) into Christ for the forgiveness of sins (Acts 2:38).  He will continue to cleanse from sin those who continue to walk in the light of His Word (1 John 1:7-9).

* Information gleaned from “Chicago USPS mail carrier helped rescue 89-year-old woman who fell and couldn’t get up” by Lucas Manfredi, www.foxnews.com.

David A. Sargent, Minister

Church of Christ at Creekwood 
1901 Schillinger Rd. S.
Mobile, Alabama  36695

Archived issues of Living Water can be viewed and accessed from our website at: www.creekwoodcc.org