“So here’s the thing…

Every Wednesday night, before he starts worship, Pastor Tim asks for any praise reports. People raise their hands and tell a quick story of some awesome thing God’s been doing in their lives. There was a man there that said he was grateful his kids and some others were with him tonight. They were adult “kids,” and I honestly can’t tell you if they’re saved kids or not, or if they just came along to humor Dad, but I got the impression they are christians. After the reports, Pastor asked us to join up with a few others (”3 or 4 sitting near you”) and hold hands in a circle and pray for each other. A man named David started for us… a general prayer of being with us thru any trials we may face, etc. And then I prayed.

When that man stood up to say how happy he was to have his kids there, I started to think of Marge and this incredible legacy she left for us. Do you realize that it was Marge who first got saved and helped lead Dad to the Lord. And because of the peace I saw in her especially, I was softened enough to hear God and get saved myself 10 years ago. And then my brother started talking to me about it and it opened his heart. And then Deb began to take notice and seek the Lord for herself… and now Marge’s grandkids talk about how much they love Jesus and want to get to know Him thru His word. And all because this amazing woman opened her heart to God. She’s left this incredible example for all of us. She suffered more than any of us could ever dread and still loved and served God till her very last breath! I wish she could have lived to be 100 and seen her great grandchildren serve the Lord. I can’t wait to see her again and tell her what an avalanche of faith she caused! …

But what I prayed for tonight wasn’t about Marge. It was about the mother I still have. I was thinking about this one memory I have of her and Ed seated around the kitchen table in Woodhaven with some friends from their church and my mom telling this story about Jesus with tears running down her face. I wondered about the legacy she will leave as the matriarch of this family, and I prayed that she would find her way back to that teary relationship with God.

As for myself, I pray that I will stay true to the narrow path this time and not let anything rip it away from me. Just as Marge never let sickness or despair rob her of a fulfilling relationship with her Lord, may I never let my burdens rob me of my Joy. I want to live to see my great grandchildren serve in ministry… I want to be the pebble that starts a landslide of faith in my family!