By Brenda Cannon Henley
In Times Like These, written by Ruth Caye Jones with Copyright 1944, now owned by Singspiration Music, Administered by Brentwood-Benson Music Publishing, Inc., has long been a favorite song of mine because I am attracted to anything nautical or involving the sea and anything remotely connected to it. I had (pre-Ike) a wonderful and diverse collection of old sea captains, and lighthouses, which I had loved for many years and over my mantle hung an original ship’s wheel from a schooner berthed in Savannah, Georgia.

Ted and I both love the beautiful Gulf of Mexico here in Southeast Texas and stay on our property there as often as time permits. I cherish hearing the old foghorns on cloudy days, fish every time I get the opportunity, and enjoy every boat in Ted’s crazy collection. I am perfectly content to just sit on the beach or walk the sandy shores finding treasures. On barely warm days, you’ll find my family in the water or picnicking on the shore.

However, this song went from being a favorite this past week into becoming my mantra. I try to keep positive about everything and anything that happens in my life, and I believe my faith, and my ability to stay focused have been tested this week to nearly maximum capacity.

In times like these, we need a Savior.

In times like these, we need an Anchor.

Be very sure, be very sure,
Your Anchor holds and grips the Solid Rock
This rock is Jesus, yes, He’s the one.
This rock is Jesus, the only one.
Be very sure, be very sure,

Your anchor holds and grips the Solid Rock.
In times like these, oh be not idle.

In times like these we need the Bible.
Be very sure, be very sure,

Your Anchor holds and grips the Solid Rock.
That Rock is Jesus, yes, He’s the one.

That Rock is Jesus, the only one.

Be very sure, oh you’ve gotta be sure.

That your Anchor holds, and it grips the Solid Rock.

Your Anchor it holds, and it grips the Solid Rock
In times like these, I have a Savior.

In times like these, I have an Anchor.

I’m very sure, I’m very sure,
My anchor holds and grips the Solid Rock.
That Rock is Jesus, yes, He’s the one.

That rock is Jesus, the only one.

Be very sure, oh you’ve gotta be sure.

That your Anchor holds, and it grips the Solid Rock.

We had been on the Bolivar Peninsula for nearly a week and enjoyed visiting with friends, walking on the beach, and caring for our property. On Tuesday, I cut the grass on all nine lots while Ted did weedeating and the like. The afternoon was foggy and we decided to go for a ride on the beach. We saw the largest gathering of beautiful white pelicans we have ever seen in one place. Ted estimated that there were over 400 of them and we took several photos. We then became hungry and headed over to our favorite Mexican restaurant to eat a late dinner. Friends from our church came in and we laughed and chatted. All was well in my world.

And, then, while talking to Debra Hughes, Ted appeared to become choked. He tried to clear the object, but could not, and we rushed over to our local Port Bolivar Volunteer Fire Department where a meeting was taking place. They could not help him and Malcolm Comeaux called for an ambulance. They rushed him to the hospital by ferry and B. J. Jewell took me to our property to get our car and I followed on the next ferry.

Ted remained in distress from 8:10 PM until 1:40 AM when they took him back for an immediate surgery. In only 24 hours, he had a second surgery. Bottom line, he was diagnosed with Esophageal Cancer, a T3 tumor, with regional lymph node involvement and metastasis in at least two of the carriers. The surgeon described the tumor to me as being between a golf and tennis ball in size with something like a cluster of grapes attached to it. He told me straight up the first night that he was 95 percent certain it would not be benign. He was right. They also termed it Adenocarcinoma. We stayed in the hospital for four days and nights and were allowed to come home until we next meet with Oncology in four days. His heart doctor came to visit and said it did not look promising and so many options are automatically ruled out because of the Afib he suffered last year and the fact that he has been on blood thinners since that time.

The anchor Ted keeps in our larger boat is always maintained and in good shape because he says we never know when we will need it in a hurry to keep us moored safely should we get out and get caught in bad weather in deep water. I have learned this week that we had best keep our own moorings with our Anchor in good shape just in case we need Him quickly. Our Anchor holds.

Brenda Cannon Henley can be reached at 409 781-8788
or [email protected].

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