I
give much thanks to the Lord on High for all that He has given me and will
continue to bring to my life. Most recently, I’ve been able to thank God for
bringing into my life a woman who is, as her kind mother says, my close friend
and constant companion. This woman already means more to me than she knows and
I feel blessed to have such a God-loving woman in my life. She brings happiness
to me not only through her presence but also through the love I’ve received
from her beautiful family.
This
family was able to see my baptism, to see my acceptance of God, and to hear and
read about the struggles that have brought me to Christ. Even after seeing my
sin, they still opened up their home and hearts to me. I spent this recent
Thanksgiving with them and with another lovely family that they are close to,
and couldn’t be more overjoyed from the experience. Hunting with the men,
playing with the numerous children, attempting to help with schoolwork, card
games as a family, delicious food, the challenges of a grocery store visit, and
the perfect silence that comes from two children sleeping in the back seat.
This Thanksgiving was undoubtedly different from any I’ve ever been apart of
and yet the thing I disliked the most about it, was that it couldn’t be longer
so I could spend more time getting to know the family (and it would have been
sweet to get a deer).
Before
I left the family at the end of the week, I had the unexpected opportunity to
have what I found out later was a special experience with my companion’s
mother. It was very simple, she said goodbye to me and then we stood there with
her patting my cheek and looking into my eyes. If it had been anyone else I
might of found it strange, but something about it told me that I think I passed
a test or the test. It was like being told that I was accepted and loved.
Strange what such a simple act can do.
After
I got back from the break, I heard some wonderful news. Apparently I was not
only accepted by the mother but also by the youngest brother which yes I know
it’s not that hard to my small children like you, but it still brought an
abundance of joy to my day. During the family’s morning prayer, the youngest
brother got to do the prayer and he included me in the prayer for the family.
This may not sound so special to some people, but to me, it was the most
wonderfully unexpected thing that I could be told.
So
the break was fantastic, but am I missing something. I haven’t really spoken
about God, right? Oh but I have. The family that enriched my break, not only
did it through their company but also through their God-centered lives. We read
through parts of the Bible and another Christian book and we each prayed for
people we knew at one of our breakfast meals. They opened up their Thanksgiving
to me, even though they did not have to. The mother was one of the most
considerate people I’ve ever met, the father aided me as best anyone could in
trying to get me a deer, the brothers all made me feel like a part of the
family’s activities, and the sisters did their best to make sure I was the right
guy for their sister. There was never once a doubt in my mind about whether or
not this family is full of love and is all about God.
P.S. Also I may have met the
most adorable child ever. (The second youngest child of the other family.)
“We love because he first loved us.” 1 John 4: 19
