Listen to this post:
I had Wednesday’s blog ready to go by the time word came down Tuesday that Dolly Parton had died. I considered writing something quickly, but what could I add to the millions and billions of words already out there, most of which spoke our grief better than I could?
When life gives me a body blow, I seem to wait a day or two to absorb it before I can start writing about it. (It’s the exact opposite of the advice I gave reporters back in the day, which was “don’t talk about it, write it down, NOW.”)
So, a day later, let me give it a try.
Dolly Parton was a gifted singer and songwriter who used her talents to make other people’s lives better. She earned a lot of money and used it to make sure children can read, knowing that reading and writing — communication! — are the tools to make a better world.
She was the very picture of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control — the fruit of the spirit.
Jesus said they’ll know we are Christians by our love. Above everything else that can be said, and has been said, about Dolly Parton, let it be known far and wide that above all, this was a Christian. She is what a Christian looks like.
