This past week has been a tough one for us. A dear friend and brother in Christ took his life Tuesday, 20 May 2008. Our church has been under attack from the enemy soon before this event and even more after. We are a weary, but the Lord’s strength in us is made perfect in weakness.
2 Corinthians 12:9
“And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.” (Emphasis Mine)
Today we are having the Memorial Service for our friend. His mother and Aunt flew in from New Jersey yesterday and we had the great privilege of meeting them last night at our Pastor’s house. We had stopped by earlier in the day to pick up the key for the church so that Malachi and I could clean the church kitchen. We have a lady preparing food today for after the service and she will be using the church’s kitchen. Good thing I am in nesting mode because that kitchen is spotless!
After we were finished cleaning we headed back to our Pastor’s house to return the church key. When we walked in the door everyone was sitting down to supper. Our friend’s mother and aunt were sitting at the table. We were not expecting to meet them so soon. I looked horrible and probably smelled worse than I looked from cleaning! My friend’s mother quickly stood up to hug me…and it was a long hug. She then laid eyes on Sofia and began to tell me how much our friend LOVED her. She told me that he would always talk about her. Just then as I was holding Sofia she reached for his mother. NOW, to know my daughter is to know, SHE NEVER GOES TO STRANGERS! Needless to say all of us in the house were crying by this point. Sofia went straight to his mother and laid her head on her chest as if to comfort this woman. (Even our pastor was crying!) 
What a special moment and we were all sad that Joe (our friend) was missing it. However, we also realize that had Joe not done what he did, this moment may have never happened. It was a very emotional moment. We had only stopped by to drop of the church key, but ended up staying to eat supper, visit and play cards! HA HA
At one point in the evening we decided to all share pictures of Joe. Joe’s mother then turned to me and said she had a gift for Sofia. I had no clue what it could be. She then went on to say that Joe loved and adored my daughter and that this was a gift he would want her to have. Then she handed me a black velvet jewelry box. Immediately we all started crying. Inside was a small diamond cross necklace. Tears were unstoppable now. What a sweet and kind thing to give my daughter. It is the most precious gift anyone has ever given her. It will be cherished for a lifetime.
Please pray for this family who has lost a wonderful son, brother and nephew. Please pray for our strength as a church family during this time. The enemy seeks to destroy us all and we should be in constant prayer for our brothers and sisters in Christ. Paul tells us over and over in scripture about how he was always thinking and praying for the people he encountered. Let us follow his lead.
Serving God and My Family,
Crystal <>< (SAHM)
No comments:
Post a Comment