My eyes keep welling up with tears as I think of and pray for him…
Maybe it’s partly because of Elizabeth’s response… One week ago yesterday when he came over, after telling John Mark about the car accident that claimed the lives of his sister and nephew and left his mother in critical condition, Elizabeth (with the limited understanding of an almost-three-year-old) seemed to understand that he was very, very sad because his Mommy was very, very sick and very, very far away. She went to him immediately as he sat on the couch and half kneeled beside him, placing one little arm on his shoulder and laying her head on his chest, and she stayed there – quietly! She who cannot walk across a room – but has to run to get where she’s going! We didn’t recognize this little girl as the same one we’ve nicknamed “Squirmy Worm” – she “never” sits still on our laps!
Maybe it’s because of the testimony he shared in church on Sunday morning, thanking God for these adverse circumstances… Maybe it’s because he did decide to follow the Lord in obedience and be baptized on Sunday evening… How we rejoiced – even as the tears slipped down our faces – as we witnessed that moment…
Maybe it’s because of the clear testimony of faith in Christ alone for salvation that he shared with the whole church on Sunday evening – and the passage of Scripture he requested be read – right before he was baptized…
Maybe it’s because we're beginning to realize how much we’ve been learning about loving people – as we’ve had the privilege of ministering in our church’s Hispanic outreach…
Maybe it’s because he had to leave so suddenly and unexpectedly… Two weeks ago we would never have imagined all this taking place…
Maybe it’s because I recognize my own weakness – and remember my own struggle when my loving Heavenly Father in infinite wisdom (but very unexpectedly for us) chose to take my mother Home to Him six weeks before my wedding… And I know how long it has taken for God’s truth to work into the soil of my own heart…
Maybe it’s all of the above – and the fact that he is “Tío Alfonso” to Elizabeth… And because we’ve all come to love him…
And it is certainly because of the Lord’s mercy in making our hearts tender and allowing us to learn more about Himself and His love…
Will you join us in praying for our brother (as the Apostle Paul prayed for the Ephesian believers)?
“…that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you a spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of Him. I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened, so that you will know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, and what is the surpassing greatness of His power toward us who believe. These are in accordance with the working of the strength of His might which He brought about in Christ, when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places, far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come. And He put all things in subjection under His feet, and gave Him as head over all things to the church, which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all.”
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