I had not been home in over a week. I’d traveled to Arkansas and then to Mississippi and a couple of different locations in that state. I had spoken four times and attended eleven services. I was so very thankful Saturday night to be getting in my own bed. I was going to look at the pictures of my grandchildren on the laptop on my own pile of clean pillows in my own room with my favorite person beside me.
I did look at my computer, but it was on my phone screen that I finally saw it when I searched for it using the I-cloud find my app. I hate that feeling. But there it was in that little map, in Olive Branch Mississippi and it just makes me so mad that the Find My technology is so much smarter than I. I knew a seven hour trip was in my immediate future. It was long. It was repetitive (especially Corinth.) For various reasons, I’ve been in Corinth. Mississippi five times in 9 days. It was one inconvenient trip, to say the least. I decided to leave straight from worship on Sunday morning. I knew I could be home by bedtime if I could stay awake to drive. I listened to singing and Bible lessons and only stopped for one fish sandwich and one scoop of ice cream on the way there. I got to worship with my nephew, Job, on the way home. I kept my eyes open. But sometimes just barely.
But I will take away the lesson that my family (in Him) is the best family. This list!
Rebecca said “Oh, let me go get it for you. I do not mind at all. Landon and I will do something fun in Memphis. Isn’t that where Elvis’ house is?”
Sue said “My husband works at Fed-Ex. We can overnight that to you.”
Glenn said “If you can wait till Monday, I can go with you and we can walk through the antique store.”
Tyler called and left a message “Oh no! I heard you left your laptop. We can come and meet you with it. Let us know where you are!”
Brittani said “Oh, I wish we had known. Robin and I love road trips. We coulda’ met you half way!”
Cindy (someone I had never met before in the friendly Strickland church in Glen, MS, where I stopped in for evening services), said “Do you want to spend the night here? I know you are tired and I have this apartment. I would LOVE for you to stay!”
Not one of these people made offers that were not genuine. It’s a family. I take the family for granted sometimes. And then, sometimes, the fellowship is so real and its rewards are very palpable. On my way home, in the car, I was listening to a brother on a PTP thumb drive tell about how, during his son’s unexpected hospital stay and ultimate death, his grass was mysteriously mowed, his bills were mysteriously paid, and he was moved from an expensive cramped hotel room to an immaculate suite with every need being met. It even had a connected garage. God’s people are the Matthew 25 “inasmuch” people. For me, the prayers of sisters are the sweetest balm in all of my world. In view of my worthiness, I am the least of these.
I’m so thankful to be serving alongside the best servants on this planet! Your generosity and self-sacrifice are a huge comfort to this road-weary old woman!
And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left. Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in: Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me. Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink? — When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee? — Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee? And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me (Matthew 25:33-40).
