FAMILY…6/16/08
by SteveI wish that all of you could have experienced the pure joy of this past weekend. In addition to Sunday being Fathers’ Day, it was also my parents’ 60th wedding anniversary. Mom and dad had refused to allow us to have a formal reception of any kind, because that’s the kind of people they are. But, we, their 4 children, being the kind of people we are, could not just let such a momentous occasion slide by without some kind of recognition.
My brother, sisters, and I came up with a plan. We contacted the pastor of their church, Trinity Baptist, and asked him if the Kirby family could form the choir on the 15th. Pastor Brant Hoots graciously said yes, and also invited me to preach the Fathers’ Day sermon. So the Kirbys got together and started practicing, choosing a jazzy rendition of Gimme that Old Time Religion which we knew our parents would love. It was my pleasure to direct the Kirby choir, and I’ll have to say, what a choir it was! Sightreading and sound par excellence!
We were able to keep our secret, and when mom and dad arrived for Sunday School and saw 34 of us in the sanctuary waiting for them, they were just overwhelmed! We had a group picture taken by a professional photographer, and when 11:00 am came, we were ready to go.Â
The choir did an excellent job, I preached a pretty good sermon on the home, and my dad sniffled most of the way through it! After church, the whole family (38) of us, gathered at my sister Kelli’s home, for a great covered dish lunch and then swimming in her pool. Mom and dad were both beaming at having us all together, and I was in seventh heaven swimming with my 4 grandsons and trying to teach them to dive.
The weekend impressed upon me the importance of family, and what a joy it is to see all us together under the Lordship of Christ, and all deeply involved in our respective churches. Life is indeed good, and families help to make it that way.Â
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It sounds like you all had a great time together with your family, Steve! We missed you on Sunday, but I really enjoyed the guest speaker.
You are blessed to have your family so close. I know that my family is a group of people I know and trust, and I can count on, even when they are far away. This is how I feel about God’s presence in my life as well.
(On a side note, what time is the choir performing Thursday evening??)
Hi Ashley…last weekend made me really appreciate what we have. My dad said it was the best day of his life!
The choir thing is at 7 pm. Glad you plan to come…and I’ll be talking to you later about joining the church this coming Sunday!
SOME PEOPLE ARE NOT SO LUCKY TO HAVE A CLOSE NIT FAMILY. IT WAS REALLY HARD FOR ME YESTERDAY BECAUSE I DO NOT HAVE A EARTHLY FATHER. THE GUEST SPEAKER TALKED ABOUT FATHERS SPENDING TIME WITH THEIR CHILDREN, IT WAS HARD FOR ME BECAUSE MY FATHER DID NOT DO THIS.
I AM SO THANKFUL THAT MY HEAVENLY FATHER HAS PUT EARTHLY FATHERS IN MY LIFE. THEY HAVE BEEN A INSPIRATION TO ME, SOME OF THEM HAVE HAD TO STEP ON MY TOES TO KEEP ME IN LINE, ALL OF THEM HAVE BEEN WITH ME ON MY CHRISTIAN JOURNEY AND I HOPE THEY CONTINUE TO DO THIS.
IF THEIR IS ONE BIT OF INFORMATION THAT I COULD GIVE FATHERS AND MOTHERS SPEND AS MUCH TIME WITH YOUR KIDS AS YOU CAN SO THEY CAN REMEMBER THIS WHEN THEY GET OLDER.