Kim Wilbanks

When Sad News Comes

The news hit me hard. It was shocking and unexpected. A text message from a friend interrupted my typical Tuesday morning. “Dolly Parton died.” Well, maybe not unexpected since she recently had health issues. But it still felt too soon. And judging from social media, much of the country felt the same.

I wasn’t a huge fan of Dolly Parton in earlier years because I wasn’t that much into country music. But the older she got, and the older I got, the more I admired her. I suspect many would agree with me. She was one of those people everyone admired, and there aren’t many like that these days. You didn’t hear people talking negatively about her.

I did not know her personally, but she seemed to have many qualities that endeared her to the public. I liked how she was humble and self-deprecating, not taking herself so seriously. It was admirable how she protected her privacy and the privacy of her loved ones. Honestly, I would not even want to know what she looked like without her crazy wigs and makeup. Her love of her home state and community was clear in the stories of how many people benefited from her businesses like Dollywood. It was so refreshing that she didn’t talk about politics but wasn’t afraid to talk about Jesus. My favorite thing about her is her Imagination Library. What a gift to the children of the world!

Right In Dolly’s Territory

My good friend and I take a trip every year during March Madness. We have to get away from the squeaky shoes of college basketball teams. This past March, we went to Dollywood in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee. I had been years before, when my kids were little, but my friend had not. Admittedly, I was a little skeptical. I lived the first sixty-five years of my life practically next door to Walt Disney World.

I experienced a pleasant surprise. We stayed at the Dream More Resort, which was top-notch. We thoroughly enjoyed our day at Dollywood. It was clean; the shows were excellent; the food was delicious, and the people were friendly. You could tell they took their branding seriously. Our favorite thing was something we found by accident. On our first night at the resort, we found a television channel where Dolly Parton sat in a bed and read bedtime stories from her Imagination Library books. She read to us every night we were there. 

Now, I’m a fan of Dollywood, and I can’t wait to take my grandsons.

Remembering A Legend

It has been less than two weeks since she passed away. There have been dozens of shows and tributes to her, from Nashville to places around the world. Buildings were lit up pink, and her songs were playing everywhere, even by the King’s Guard outside Buckingham Palace. A woman in the town where she most recently lived organized a pink car parade to drive by her home. This weekend, the University of Tennessee had a special tribute for their first game. The football players are wearing orange butterfly stickers on their helmets; the band spelled out Dolly in their halftime show, and My Tennessee Mountain Home is to be the 4th quarter anthem.

People will not soon forget Dolly Parton. 

I’ve been thinking about this a lot. People will remember her for her many good deeds and positive personality. We can admire her without turning her into an idol. Judging from her interviews, I don’t think she would want that anyway. 

A Contrast Of Character

A few years ago, in my Bible reading, I came across an entirely different type of person. It was in the Old Testament, in 2 Chronicles 21:20. The verse reads:

Jehoram was thirty-two years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem eight years. He passed away, to no one’s regret, and was buried in the City of David, but not in the tombs of the kings.

How sad to have died, and no one regretted your death. He was an important person, a king of Judah, yet he didn’t even get a royal burial.

I don’t know about you, but I would rather be like Dolly. Not that a massive number of people will grieve my death; after all, I am not a superstar like her, but I would want to be remembered for doing good in my life, for making a difference. You don’t have to be a superstar to make a difference. 

This is what I want to hear when I stand before the Lord:

“Well done, good and faithful servant.” Matthew 25:23

How about you? Do you want to be remembered for the good things you have done, or are you okay with being forgotten? It’s never too late to change your path.

In the words of our Lord Jesus:

In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven. Matthew 5:16