When life puzzles you

FROM THE EDITOR

Recently, 80–year–old Denyse Holt of Illinois, a grandmother, failed to send her Wordle puzzle result to her daughter in Seattle, Washington, something she always does every morning.

Her daughter was alarmed by the break in routine and asked the local Illinois police to conduct a “wellness check” at her mom’s house. Upon arrival, they discovered that she was dealing with a much more serious puzzle than Wordle—a deranged home invader had locked Holt in the basement for 21 hours and he was holding her hostage at knife point.

In this issue of SACONNECTS, we include the stories of other grandmothers who are dealing with life’s puzzles. Some are having the time of their lives, like Ada Jarrett, 84, known as “The General” at her Salvation Army church in Pottstown, Pa., (see page 32), while others are going through tumultuous times, such as 80–year–old Pam Rivet of Rochester, N.Y. (see pages 20–21).

Grandmothers like Rivet are being “held hostage” by poverty, tragedy, and uncertainty brought on by circumstances beyond their control. Those chronic problems have invaded the peace and sanctity of their homes. These courageous grandmothers are “holding the family together” as one observer describes it, but they’ve slipped through society’s loopholes and need help.

Fortunately, you’ll also read how The Salvation Army is rescuing these families through its many care programs as it continues to “do the most good” for people who are in the greatest need.

By the way, you’ll be happy to know that Holt survived her ordeal and is back to doing the many wonderful things that her family has grown to expect from her, including that morning Wordle puzzle, of course.

Let us pray that the other grandmothers will see their problems solved too because they deserve it. Proverbs 16:31 reminds us, “Gray hair is a crown of glory; it is gained in a righteous life.”

WARREN L. MAYE Editor in Chief