Friday, March 31, 2017

March 31 – “A Walk with Anne”

Wait a minute.  Tomorrow is April already?  How did I miss the Ides of March?  Sigh …

Last night we hosted another party.  This one was to say goodbye to Ann and Eric and Cedric.  We have known Anne literally since she was a baby.  She played Baby Jesus in a Christmas pageant one year when we were in seminary.  Rocked the roll, too, I might add.  Then her family moved to Mexico City to be teacher missionaries.  Our next connection came when we took a group of boys to a Royal Ambassadors regional event in Belton, Texas.  Who were the visiting missionary speakers?  None other than Anne and her family.  She was a young lady by then, at least 10 or 12.  She was already accomplished in the fine art of, well, talking.  Whether she sensed that she could trust us, or she just never met a stranger, she engaged us the entire time we were together there. 

Our next contact came many years later when I listened to a phone message at the church from a new student at Texas A&M University’s Galveston campus.  The hesitant voice on the other end wanted to know if I was the same guy who went to seminary with her father.  We started going by to pick her up for a ride to church every week.  And from that beginning we walked with Anne through college graduation and job searches.  She sang with the Praise Team at church, and even led the effort for a while, selecting the songs every week.  She became a regular at our home group, and over the years invited quite a few friends and co-workers to be a part of our gathering.

Hers was the wedding that almost was canceled when the officiant wouldn’t proceed unless he had the license in hand.  And the license was MIA.  I offered to step in if they wanted me to, and after a quick call to Nathan to bring me my wedding book, the ceremony carried on.  The license was right where Anne said it was, by the way.  The searchers had inadvertently covered it up with some other stuff.  I signed it a day or two later and all was good.  We walked with her through some difficult times as well as some really exciting times in her marriage.  Not the least of which was the adoption of little Cedric.  I guess that one would qualify in both categories.  The process and the wait was extremely difficult, but the end result was a fine youngster who is not “little” Cedric any longer.  It was one of those proud “substitute parent” moments for us when we were honored to stand with them before the judge when the adoption was finalized.

As I told Anne when they left the house last night, we found her after her exile to Mexico, so we should be able to maintain some sort of contact with Austin.  I assume they have cell phone service there, don’t they?

Acts 2:43-47 says, “Everyone kept feeling a sense of awe; and many wonders and signs were taking place through the apostles.  And all those who had believed were together and had all things in common; and they began selling their property and possessions and were sharing them with all, as anyone might have need.  Day by day continuing with one mind in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they were taking their meals together with gladness and sincerity of heart, praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord was adding to their number day by day those who were being saved.”


Father, continue your walk with Anne and Eric and Cedric in this new adventure they find themselves on.  Amen.

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