Memories...

27 years ago, Hal and I moved to Decatur Alabama. He had just graduated from seminary, and we had a 3 year old daughter and a 6 month old son. (Our baby came the next summer.) This was the first "full-time" church. We were young... and away from home.

One of the scriptures that I have seen God fulfill in our lives is the promise from Mark 10:29-30
"29 So Jesus answered and said, “Assuredly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or lands, for My sake and the gospel’s,
30 who shall not receive a hundredfold now in this time—houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and lands..."

So, enter the scene of our lives - Henry and Shirley Workman. We had left our family - for ministry - and they became family to us. They took us as their own and loved our children as if they were their own grand-children. I am talking literally here.

i.e. They offered for us to come and swim in their pool - and they were serious. When I did not take them up on the offer immediately, Shirley would call me, to personally invite me to come and bring my babies. Henry gave Hal the key to their house and told us that anything they had was ours too. He meant it. Shirley would call when there was something going on with the young couples at the church and offer to babysit my kiddos so that this young mom could go too.

Our little ones had to come out to "big church" at the age of three. I was in the choir - so after a few weeks of a break from choir and sitting with me, Shirley was the one who told me to go back to the choir and let them sit with her. For all three children. That is just the way she was.

They bought our children gifts - probably way too many - but they would just tell us that they did not have any grandchildren yet - so they would take ours. And on... and on... and on I could go with examples. Seven years worth...

Shirley had cancer when we first met. She had been given 6 months to live. God healed her and her 6 months lasted 27 years. This past week, she met her Savior face to face.

It has been a few years since I have seen her or talked to her. We do not get back to Decatur very often. But I have a storehouse of memories. And heaven is a little sweeter...

So, Henry - thank you for sharing your life and all that you had with us. You will never know this side of heaven how much it meant to us then... and how much it still means to us now. Sweet, sweet memories.

Also thanks to Robert, Tony and Jeff - for sharing your parents and your home and your lives with us. Even though we do not see you often - our lives are richer because of the Workmans...