Comforting those in need

By Staff
Priceville couple writes second book
Tracy B. Cieniewicz, Hartselle Enquirer
A Priceville couple is hoping to again share God's healing through a second book of spiritual poetry.
Coleman and Eloise Y. Lott, authors of the 1994 book "Serenity," recently published "Solace: Poems of Encouragement, of Relief of Melancholy, Boredom or Loneliness."
Their first book was written in honor of dead loved ones and those suffering, but Eloise said "Solace" was written as a source of encouragement to others working through trials and tribulations.
"Our desire is to help people," Eloise explained. "We know pain, but we also know the source of healing."
Both Coleman, 90, and Eloise, 79, suffered tragedy in their first marriages.
Coleman's wife was murdered in a store robbery and Eloise's husband was electrocuted while trimming tree limbs.
"But we found each other," Eloise said. "Each morning we make the bed together and sing 'This Is the Day the Lord Hath Made.'"
Eloise's three children suffered tragedies, as well.
Her youngest son broke his neck in a bicycle accident when he was six, her daughter was paralyzed in a car accident at age 17, and her oldest son died of hepatitis, cancer and AIDS at age 45.
"We've had a lot of suffering, but I don't know of a family anywhere who's had more blessings," Eloise declared.
Health problems have also plagued the Lotts. Coleman is clinically blind and was recently diagnosed with leukemia, bone marrow cancer, bulging disk in the lumbar spine, cysts on his kidneys and gallstones, accompanied by his existing heart problems and arthritis. He has decided to not treat the leukemia with chemotherapy.
"He still walks a mile most days and does 30 minutes of exercise each morning at the old Priceville Town Hall," Eloise said. "The arthritis is his greatest pain."
Eloise has had 35 surgeries during her lifetime to battle numerous bone infections and cancerous tumors that have developed since her early childhood.
"We live through it," Coleman said. "That's why I encouraged Eloise to write her feelings down. I've been writing all my life. I even wrote love poems for her while we were dating. Poetry is very healing, that's why we want to share it through our books."
The Lotts printed 1,140 copies of "Solace" for its first publication. It is available for $10 at The Book Cellar, Gospel Lighthouse, Pillbox Pharmacy, Gifts and Galleries, and Carriage House Antiques.
The first 500-book publication of "Serenity" sold out in six months, and Coleman said few of the book's second publication are still available in bookstores.
"That's why we had so many published for 'Solace,'" Eloise said. "Over the past 10 years, we have gotten many phone calls, cards and letters from people all over who said they enjoyed 'Serenity' and wanted to share poems from it with students, churches, in newspapers and at funerals. We're not doing this for money, just to be encouraging and to let God use us through inspirational words."
Coleman said "Serenity" has even been used in Russian and Danish classrooms.
"We encourage people to copy and share our poems with others who are hurting," Coleman said. "This is our legacy and we want to share it with as many people as we can, no matter where they are from or what church they go to."
The Lotts are also offering "Solace" as a mission fundraiser for church youth and mission groups, with groups collecting 40 percent of each $10 sale. For more information, call the Lotts at 355-3373.
"We have had a lot of blessings through our work," Eloise said. "We just want to share the blessings with everyone going through hard times."