June 10, 2013
Good morning. Wonderful day. I am
writing this late at night because we got up early and piled in the car to head
to Russellville (family day/decoration day). It was wonderful seeing everyone.
My parents instilled in me a love and appreciation for God and family, and I cant
get enough time with either one. J
Well, today’s thought stems from my
day. Shocker, isn’t it? But this one is not about me. (Haha. That is probably
the true shock.) One of my cousins, Anita, left our get-together and headed to
the cemetery. Her and her husband met this very nice older gentleman there. He
asked who they were visiting. She replied “Simmons family”. The man responded
that he was happy to meet them that he used to know some Simmons. He told her
that at one time, he was in love with one of the Simmons girls. He said that he
had gone away for a bit but returned to ask her to marry him. Upon return, he
learned that she had a boyfriend. He reminisced about that Simmons girl telling
Anita how much he loved her and how beautiful she was. Well, of course, she was
entranced by the story. How cool is that to run into someone who knew one of
your family when she was young? She asked the name of the Simmons girl. He
replied “Lorene”. Well, let me just tell you here and now, tears spring to my
eyes even as I write this. Lorene was Anita’s mother! She was the main person
that she was visiting. (My wonderful aunt, Lorene, passed away about 29+/-
years ago). What a wonderful gift that God gave her yesterday! She was missing
her mother and God placed this gentleman in the cemetery at the exact same time
and had him strike up a conversation. That is not chance or coincidence. That,
my dear, is a God thing. Break it down - A blind man in a cemetery asks for
directions to the Emerson gravesite. My cousin, Anita, and her husband,
Charlie, are visiting her mother, Lorene’s, grave. He asked what family she is
visiting. Charlie tells him the Simmons. He recollects of a young Simmons girl
he knew and love. He gives them the name of his lost love – Lorene. Really? Wow.
Well, I can tell you this as well. If the gentleman had not been blind, it
would have been a shorter conversation because Anita looks A LOT like her
mother. God places people in our lives to share his love. In that small cemetery in Double Springs, Alabama, God let Anita know
how much he loves her by giving her the gift of a new memory of her mother. Our
God is an awesome god.
God’s gifts are not always evident.
You may not ever become a millionaire. You may not own the biggest house or the
newest car. You may struggle to pay for college J
or braces for your child. BUT, and there is always a but, you may have handmade
macaroni “I love you” from your child or meet the man of your dreams. You may
get a hug when you need it most or a friend calling out of the blue when you
are feeling blue. These are gifts from God. He knows what we need. Do we need
millions of dollars? Really? Answer me truthfully. It would be nice but no, not
necessary. Do we sometimes need a hug? You don’t need me to answer that for
you, do you? Yesterday, God gave Anita a gift but you know… he gave that
gentleman a gift as well. And Charlie. And Anita’s children. And Anita’s
brothers. And Lorene’s sisters. And it continued to trickle down. And continues
to trickle as I share the gift with all of you.
Today, Lorene is with God. She is free
of all pain and suffering. She misses us but she knows that one day we will all
meet again. She stands amidst angels and smiles down upon us. And today, she
knows that God gave her precious baby girl a wonderful gift to treasure for the
rest of her earthly life. What more could a mama want???
Bible Verse for the week:
See
what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called
children of God! And that is what we are!
1 John
3
Picture of the week:
Young Lorene with Anita
Bible Fun for the week:
Fill-in-the-blank: New Testament Scriptures #1
1.
"And Jesus increased in wisdom and __________, and in favour with
God and man." (Luke 2:52)
§ Knowledge popularity speed stature
2.
"Ye are the __________ of the earth...." (Matthew 5:13)
§ Salt mountains waters dust
3.
"Ye are the __________ of the world. A city that is set on a hill
cannot be hid." (Matthew 5:14)
§ Men forest army light
4.
"Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a __________, but
on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house." (Matthew 5:15)
§ Roof chair rock bushel
5.
"If ye __________ me, keep my commandments." (John 14:15)
§ Know love follow remember
6.
"For God sent not his Son into the world to __________ the world;
but that the world through him might be saved." (John 3:17)
§ Destroy condemn feed form
7.
"Suffer the little __________ to come unto me, and forbid them not:
for such is the kingdom of God." (Mark
10:14)
§ Minded in spirit children lambs
8.
"Wherefore it is lawful to do well on the __________ days." (Matthew 12:12)
§ Passover Sabbath worst of cold
9.
"This day is this scripture fulfilled in your __________." (Luke 4:21)
§ Homes lives cities ears
10.
"Wist ye not that I must be about my __________ business?" (Luke 2:49)
§ people's own Father's mother's
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