by Mr Alex MacLennan, Muir-of-Ord
Mrs Alex. MacLeod,
Vancouver.
No. 1 Tomich,
Muir-of-Ord,
Ross-shire.
Sat. 19/7/69
Dear Catriona,
This is a few lines to express my sincere sympathy in the recent sore stroke you have been visited with — the loss of your husband.
I believe he was a good husband to you. I can only recommend to you the One in whom all the best qualities found in an earthly husband, are to be found all at once and to perfection, our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, who says in His Word: “Thy Maker is thy husband — the Lord of hosts is His Name.”
Our friends and relatives will soon leave us. They may follow to the grave, they can do no more. They throw the cords down on our coffin and walk away. But this heavenly Husband will remain with you, and take care of your dust till the latter day, when He will raise you out of your resting place — strong — glorious and beautiful. This is something to those who love Christ to look forward to.
You expect to see Alex again in the city of the Great King, where you shall sing the praises of a Triune God, world without end. “Unto Him that loved us and washed us from our sins in His own blood.”
I can only wish and pray that the ‘God of all grace’ may comfort you and fill the void in your heart. May such strokes wean us from this world — give us a desire for the ‘Better Country’, daily seeking preparation to cross over to the other side.
If you feel like it, I would like to have a detailed account of his last days. Was it sudden or otherwise?
I may take this opportunity of saying that three of our family have died within a little more than a year — Margaret 87; Jessie 85; John 83. There are only three of us left now — May in Tain; Johnie at Muir-of-Ord and myself.
I will be 80 myself in September of this year and still employed as full time missionary between Dingwall and Beauly.
Margaret used to speak often about you. She would be 88 next October. “The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all.”
Alex MacLennan.