The church was packed to the rafters.
We were all surprised
because Daddy had said at breakfast
that he hoped for maybe 40 people
to hear his first sermon in his first church.
Brother Rudy ushered us to the front pew
which he said was a place of honor
but which I didn't care for
because instead of me watching all the people in front of me
everybody would be watching me!
It was hot.
People were waving fans on a stick.
Daddy chose as his text for the day
for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you."
I Thessalonians 5:18
Daddy told the story of our puppies.
"I was working all night and going to school all day."
Daddy said.
"I was so tired.
I was ragged at the edges."
"And I couldn't think what to do
to save our little puppies who were running around desperate
not able to breathe
so I asked God
but He didn't answer me."
The boys were craning their necks
to see who was hollering.
Everybody was.
Mom had to reach over and pinch them on their arms
to make them stop.
Mom had told me
that a Lady always keeps her knees closed
and her hands on her Bible.
So I did that.
Even though I was nervous at all the talking back to Daddy, too.
"And my children were crying
and my little wife was inside the house, vomiting
and I came all-over shaky."
"and I looked across the street at those boys
laughing at us
and hatred grew in my chest
like a red hot rose!"
"And my hands were itching
to go over there
and strangle them."
"I wanted to squeeze their miserable necks
between my two hands..."
"but just then
the Holy Ghost
the Comforter
filled my soul
and I lost my desire to kill."
"Thou shalt not kill!"
"I buried our puppies
in the back yard
and while I was digging
that little grave
I tried to give thanks to God
but I was sick
I was trembling
and I couldn't think of one thing to be thankful for".
"After it was all over
my son came to me
and he asked
'Daddy, why did God let those boys kill our puppies'?"
and I was too tired
to have an answer for him
so I let him go to bed
alone
uncomforted by his Daddy."
"You couldn't help it".
"You was worn out".
"But now, today, in this beautiful church,
I know the answer".
"The answer is that God gave us free will
and we can use it for the Glory of God
or we can use it to cause pain."
"It was the will of those boys
to bring down pain upon us."
at the Judgement Seat of the Lamb someday!"
"That night, I went in to look at my son.
I saw the tear-tracks on his chubby little cheeks".
"I knelt down by his cot
and I said to my Lord
I will try to be thankful
right here, right now
in the middle of my pain
and my anger
I thank You.
Thy Will be done".
"And my heart was made soft
and peace washed over me
and I knew that my son was sleeping in the arms of Jesus".
"That night
I had no idea
that God was teaching us a lesson."
"He was teaching us to give thanks
in everything
no matter what
good and bad
and to accept it as His will towards us."
"And now, as I look around at all of you
my heart is filled to the brim with praise
and thanksgiving
because the Lord brought us through
some terrible times
so that He could bring us here
to worship with you."
Daddy got his hankie out of his back pocket
and wiped his eyes
and blew his nose
and said
"Thank you, Lord."
"Glory be!"
"Thank you blessed Lord!"
"Jesus is here in our church today!"
"Yes he is!"
"Welcome blessed Lord"!
Daddy put his hankie away
raised his arms
and said
"And now, let us all stand for the Doxology."
The piano lady pounded out a few bars while we all stood up
and shook the wrinkles out of our Sunday clothes
and sang
Praise Him all creatures here below
Praise Him above ye Heavenly Hosts
Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.
"In the good and in the bad!"
"It's His will towards us!"
and Pastor Jim."
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