Greetings, cyber world! It’s been a long time since I’ve had time to sit down and work on another blog post. I apologize, I really should keep up on these kinds of things- but better late than never.
The last time I posted on this blog, I was still living in Michigan. Now, that looks like a simple sentence, doesn’t it? Well, it wasn’t as simple as “living in Michigan” to me when I was there. Allow me to elaborate…
Our church was small. And in today’s society small is not usually considered ideal, especially when on the subject of church. Say you’re in your car, and you drive past a church that is so big and beautiful, you get distracted and make a wrong turn- then end up in the middle of nowhere. And as you try to make your way back to town you happen to pass a small, brick building with a hand-made church sign hanging out front that reads: ”Sunday school- 9:30 a.m. Morning worship- 10:30 a.m.” Would you rather attend the other church? Or does that sound exciting to you? Yeah, we didn’t think so either. Yet we carried on…
Before our family moved to Michigan, the little country church my dad turned upside down was known as a “Preacher Eater.” (I’m not sure if that was the exact term, but we’ll go with it, it has the same effect.) My parents were thoroughly cautioned, but didn’t believe the warnings they had been given when they met with a few families that then attended the church. To this day my mom still raves about how nice they were….for the first 2 weeks. The church desperately needed renovations, and my dad was the guy in charge. There were a lot of families in the church who quickly learned to love us, my dad’s way of teaching, and were excited to see the positive changes to come. But, (there is always a but. *sigh*) there was an equal amount of those who didn’t. One person said these very words to my dad: “I don’t know how anyone can call themselves a servant of God and not have those candelabras displayed on the platform!” Not joking. Every bitter word spoken about my dad and his plan to help the church made just about as much sense as what that person said about the candelabras. (Which, for the record, were black, and looked like something that belonged in the Munster household.) Long story short, there was a church split right off the bat. The people who didn’t like it left, and those who did stayed with a small selection of those who still weren’t quite sure (of course.) The entire 10 years our family served the church it was a constant mixture of changes, praises, complaints, people coming and going, lives being changed; and yes, there was usually something/someone stupid that needed taken care of. Growing up I was almost always aware when something was “going on” in the church, it’s not really something that could be avoided. We walked the journey together; as a family.
Looking back I realize that I probably went through a lot of things that almost no one my age can understand or relate to, but I never thought anything of it until I was "older." (I put "older" in quotes because I'm only 15, and don't like to consider myself old just yet.) I guess even as a little girl I believed that God would always take care of us. Everything we went through was more than enough to make your head spin, but He most certainly did take care of us. God used our family how He saw fit, and despite the challenges, I really believe it was for the better. Lots of amazing things happened -lives were changed -while we were there: things that truly make it all worth it. I am very grateful for the time God allowed us to stay there. It made me who I am, and don’t take my words lightly when I say I love and miss my Michigan church family more than you all will ever know.
I hope you now see why I never thought of it as simply “living in Michigan.” Almost every minute our family spent there was dedicated to the church and it’s people, and it’s definitely not something to regret. God has plans for us here, though. We get to be in Colorado- a beautiful state full of wonderful opportunities. God brought us here for a reason, and I can’t wait to see how His plan unfolds.
All my growing up, I watched in amazement as my dad poured his life into the people of our beloved Michigan church. Even though I was small, I still possessed the ability to see how hard it was on him to always have to be living for others -hardly a spare moment for himself. However, I could also see that he did it willingly. That’s why I respect him so much. I was constantly tagging along with him when he went to visit people, or if he had to give someone a ride somewhere. Whenever he would let me, I was there. I watched my dad make a difference in people’s lives. A small act of kindness can truly have the biggest impact on someone’s life. And yes, I did say “small.”
“The King will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.” Matthew 25:40 |
