After church today my parents and I headed to Denny's for a little after church rendezvous. I sat in the backseat of our blue suburban laughing at them and cracking jokes about how they are becoming senior citizens. All of my siblings were gone today, so it was just me and Sue and Kurt aka Mom and Dad. I felt like a little kid again. Sitting in the back of our huge family car and laughing like I was 5 years old. I did not have a care in the world and trusted that my parents would safely deliver me to wherever we were going. My heart smiled when it recognized yet another reason for me to be back from Africa... To celebrate childhood one last time. To live under my parents roof one last time. To respect my parents in a way I never have. To have this deep, endless amount of thankfulness for them. To see that because of their commitment to each other and to the Lord, I am able to recognize who I am and what I stand for... I am able to stand firm in my faith and cling tight to my hope in the Lord.
As we were taking our assigned booth at Denny's, we started up some awesome conversation, just the three of us. We talked and talked and ordered coffee and discussed what on earth we would order. We made friendly conversation with our wonderful waiter, Brittany, and joked how we both spelled our names the "right" way. My mom and I poked fun at my dad because he is almost at the age to receive his senior discount... He didn't laugh as hard as we did :) Amidst our joy, we were quietly introduced to a couple seated behind our booth who had fallen on harder times. They did not know that we caught word of their conversation, but our hearts could not help but do something. I stood back in absolute awe as I watched my mom turn to my dad and say, "Kurt, we're going to buy their meal". Without a second thought, my dad went up to the register and made sure their bill was delivered to our table. My heart was crushed in admiration of my parents... I of course got chocked up and let those shameless public tears stroll down my face as I looked across the table at my mom. I couldn't put into words how much of an impact that had on my heart, as their daughter. I couldn't believe I got to call them mine... All mine. My mom and dad. My incredible parents. It's not like they wrote a check for a million dollars, no, it was much more than that. They took compassion on strangers and entertained angels. They took the blessings they have been given and turned it into tangible love. They may never be thanked or acknowledged for what they did at that Denny's in Small Town, U.S.A. today, but they sure became a living example of Hebrews 13:2, "Do not forget to entertain strangers, for by so doing some people have entertained angels without knowing it".
Mommy and Daddy, thank you. Thank you for being compassionate and real. Thank you for standing up for what's just. Thank you for teaching us morals and values. Thank you for loving us through and through. Thank you for being my very own set of angels :)
So as I turn 23 this week, I have to give an even BIGGER shout out to these two... If it wasn't for you guys I wouldn't be entertaining you both with my extremely unfunny jokes :) Thank you for bringing me into this world and showing me what truly matters. Thank you for believing in me and my dreams. It is through you guys's love, guidance, wisdom, advice, and undeniable faith in God that I am able to face life with my hands wide open and ready to serve.
With that being said, I have devoted my 23rd year of life to building Rays of Grace's new school in Uganda. With my earthly parents and my heavenly Father backing me, we committed to complete surrender and trust in the Lord. My surgery is February 20th and I have let the reality of being stateside-stuck set in. It is not a punishment nor is it a bummer. It is full of light and grace and drenched in love... Unconditional love. Please join me on yet another journey this year. Our initial goal is $26,000. This will cover purchasing the land and building our very first Mt. of Olive's School. Throughout the process we will be gathering numbers for supplies, child sponsorship, and continual operating costs to keep the school alive and well :)
For more information please visit: http://www.raysofgrace.org/support
Or please feel free to email me: bfroi17@gmail.com
Thank you again for all the love and prayers you have mindfully sent my way. There is not a day that goes by that I don't see the Lord at work. He has answered prayers and will continue to be Sovereign in His ways. So please join me in Uganda as we bless those who are in need. Again, thank you Mommy and Daddy for showing me what it truly means to give selflessly and serve endlessly, I love you guys more than words :)
"'Then I will purify the lips of the peoples, that all of them may call on the name of the Lord and serve Him shoulder to shoulder'" - Zephaniah 3:9
With so much love and grace,
britt :)
No comments:
Post a Comment