We were looking for a church home. Our five-year-old son was looking for heaven.Which he found at the church we visited.
It had many children to play with plus a huge box of donuts sitting on a table, free for the taking. This was his definition of heaven.
When the service began, he joined us but, before the second song, he headed to the back. His father followed and found him in the bathroom, heaving his breakfast.
“Are you OK?” my husband asked.
He was. He washed his face, straightened his shoulders, and nodded.
“What happened? Are you sick?”
Our son shook his head. “No, I ate too many donuts.”
“How many did you eat?”
“Seven.”
His father laughed. “Wow.” And then he seized the parenting moment. “So did you learn anything from this little episode?”
“Yep,” he said. “Stop at six.”
Can I offer a recommendation? OK, I will. You need to know, I am 85 years of age – not old, 86th birthday in a month, Two years ago I lost my wife to cancer, we had been married seven years and I moved here to Cookeville, TN, to marry her. Her family became my friends. With her passing, the family descended on her home, they had a will, I did not, I was asked to leave. Alone, I asked our Lord for help and it appeared in two friends I had met a month or so earlier. One was a Pastor and invited me to “his” church and that was good as my wife and I had settled on church at home, after being ignored while visiting other churches. I was amazed by the response – my claim would seen become, …”they loved me back to life.” And so I settled in, I thought. Then, there were two young female Missionaries knocking on my door and as I discovered they were Mormons, I tried to run them off, but when I described myself as a “born again” Christian, they encouraged me to listen more carefully to what they had to say. I did and I was amazed as they were answering questions I had tried to have answered by former Pastors, even the one who had now become a close friend, and stopped debating with them – just listening and occasionally commenting as the “lessons” continued. I began talking more seriously with the Lord – some call it praying, but we had had a good relationship for the previous forty years. He knew my “ways”. When I realized that the Monmons were actually doing what I had asked previous churches to do – over the years, and when they answered my questions about how we are to raise our children – my opinion, the greatest challenge faced by churches today. God answered my prayers in the affirmative. It will soon be nine months since my baptism and as the old song goes, “It gets sweeter and sweeter as the days go by and oh what a love between my Lord and I.” “He lives, He lives, Christ Jesus lives today, He walks with me and talks with me, along life’s narrow way, you ask me how I know He lives, He lives within my heart.” And that walk has been enhanced by those who opened their arms and love to me from the very first I walked through their doors. I encourage you to call them – or better yet, call me and I will have them put you in touch with Missionaries in your area.. It’s Sherwood MacRae, 931-528-7238 I want you and your family to experience the pure joy to be found in serving a body of Christ, preparing for His return and yet, making every day, meaningful. Sincerely yours, Sherwood MacRae
Date: Fri, 24 Jul 2015 12:53:41 +0000 To: sherwood8028@hotmail.com
Sherwood, thank you for a heart-felt comment. I’m sorry I’m slow responding. I was away from my computer yesterday. Thank you for sharing your story. You have experienced some pain in your life and I am glad you’re seeking God. My story had to do with a church we attended several years ago. I am a follower of Jesus. I believe that he lived, died, and overcame death to live again. His spirit lives within me. I am part of a church today where I serve with joy and fullness. I knew you’d want to know that. Thank you for your kindness and concern for my family. -Kathy