Did you hear about the Spirit family reunion last week?
The Spirit family has done this every year for the last 40 years. This year was no different. On a warm Saturday afternoon with bright blue skies, big poofy marshmallow looking white clouds intermittently filled the sky while the family gathered at the local park in a north Florida town where old fashioned charcoal grills were doused with lighter fluid as the black Kingsford coals started the slow journey toward ashen gray, ultimately sizzling and licking the underside of burgers and hot dogs. The atmosphere was bucolic as balloons were tied to the pavilion pillars, the aroma of Sarah Spirit’s special potato salad filled the air and rainbow colored streamers securely tied to the tree branches waved “hello” to all the family members.
In the middle of it all, there sat Sarah, the beaming sixty-eight year old proud matriarch of this gathering of at least 75, the largest gathering ever at the annual celebration of family. This year her six children, Kaleb (51), Kylie (49), Johnathon (48), Destiny (45), Brandon (44) and Alanna (40 and 2 months) pitched in and presented Sarah with a beautiful, classic white wooden rocking chair. And there she sat, in the middle of it all, green grass, shady 100 year old live oaks, warm breeze – 6 children, 6 son and daughter-in-laws, 16 grandchildren and 4 great grandchildren.
Sarah rocked and Ellie-Mae, the oldest granddaughter leaned over rubbing noses with her “Spree-Ma”. Sarah’s eyes twinkled as they giggled while Sarah’s well worn hands gently caressed Ellie-Mae’s tummy which would soon produce great granddaughter number 5. Ellie-Mae is going to name great granddaughter #5 after the lady she admires, respects and loves so much – Sarah…
Did you hear about the Spirit family reunion last week?
Neither did I…
And neither did you…
The Spirit family reunion that I was predicting would happen 40 years from now will never take place…
Why?
Because Sarah Spirit’s father Don shot and killed her and her six precious children in their home before shooting himself last week…
Seeing God At Work Everyday
I have found over the years that Jesus is a man of his word.
When he says, “There will be trouble in this world,” I believe him.
When he says, “I am with you always, even to the end of the age,” I believe him.
And so in the midst of this terrible, horrifying, mind stripping, troubling tear inducing act, I believe Jesus on both fronts.
This is troubling! And as I sit at my computer and as you sit at yours, this troubles me to no end in the senselessness and tragedy of it all.
And yes, I believe that Jesus was with
Sarah (28)
Kaleb (11)
Kylie (9)
Johnathon (8)
Destiny (5)
Brandon (4)
Alanna (2 months)
And yes, I believe that Jesus was with Don, the father. That’s a hard sentence to write much less believe. Jesus didn’t pull the trigger. But why Jesus didn’t keep Don from pulling the trigger is a mystery far beyond my scope of understanding and comprehension.
Did you hear about the Spirit family reunion last week?
Sarah watched with a gleam that her eyes had never experienced before as she and her six children, count em, six, sat on the lap of Jesus and giggled and squealed and basked in the glory of the Son of the One who is the Light of Light and King of Kings as they sang together with one voice…
“Jesus loves the little children
All the children of the world
Red and yellow, black and white
They are precious in His sight
Jesus loves the little children of the world”
Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me and do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of heaven.” (Matthew 19. 14)
Let them come… let them come
SeeingGotAtWorkEveryday
Laugh often and Fear not!
David!
David@seeinggodatworkeveryday.com