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PICTURES OF A MOTHER
One mom dresses her newborn in the prettiest outfit she has. She herself is dressed in that one dress that he loves most. He comes around the corner. “It’s time.” He looked so handsome in his uniform. On the way, not much is spoken. They didn’t have to. The ceremony was beautiful. The hugs lasted a lifetime. The tears could have filled the ocean. Once he is out of sight, she holds her little girl. She whispers, “It’s okay. He’ll be back. . . He will.” Life if fragile.
One mom sits at the kitchen table in her one-bedroom apartment. It’s past midnight and she wonders where her seventh grader is. Will he walk through the door soon? Is he at a friend’s place? Is he walking the streets? Will the phone ring again with “the law” on the other end? She wonders how it all happened. Just a year ago she had a perfect marriage, a perfect family. His death was so sudden; they had been unprepared. Everything is falling apart. Life is fleeting.
One mom sits behind the wheel with three younglings in the back. The rain on the windshield makes it hard to see in the moonlit night, let alone the tears that flow, dripping from her cheeks. Piercing the darkness comes a small voice, “Mommy, where are we going?” She had been asking herself that same question, yet answers were elusive. The one thing she did know was that she couldn’t go back. She wouldn’t. Never! But, where to now? Life is scary.
Four moms. They live in different worlds though they breathe the same air, travel the same roads. They hurt. They struggle.
Four moms enter through the doors. They sit in different places though they hug the same people, sing the same songs, hear the same message. They dream. They hope. Their faith carries them through, clinging to his promise, “never will I leave you, never will I forsake you.” Life is hectic, but at peace. Life is fragile, but so precious. Life is fleeting, but full. Life is scary, but endurable. The message brings hope. The songs provide faith. The hugs supply love.
April 27th; Bledsoe Anniversary
This is the week we will celebrate Trey Bledsoe’s 10 year anniversary. We will do so with a big lunch at the church after the 11:00 Water’s Edge worship service. I am glad we can come to this time and celebrate as a church consistent loving leadership to waves of incoming and outgoing young people in their formative years. Lea Ann and I are thrilled that our children (beginning this year) will have the solid ministry Trey has built over these years.
Not only has Trey influenced students, but he has also set a foundation for those who will continue ministry in the churches they serve scattered all over. Pick up one of the colorful sheets and write down your perceptions and recollections– not just to bless Trey, but it will also bless the church and give us more reason to thank God for these 10 years.
Trey Bledsoe’s Anniversary
We are approaching a very significant anniversary at Canyon Creek. In May, Trey Bledsoe will have been serving this church for 10 years. Look at this from another perspective. A lot of years ago now, God whispered an invitation for Trey to be a minister. The world was in front of him, but in 1998, Trey would bring all of his love for the Lord, his passion for service, as well as a 92 hour Masters degree in Divinity, and give himself for ministry here. Coming straight from Baylor and then graduation from Southwestern Seminary, Canyon Creek has exclusively received his ministerial attention. In today’s hyperactive world, there is a lot to say for that kind of longevity. We are blessed.
You know that it has not always been easy. Along the way God has whispered to him words of affirmation. Many of you know that Trey helped see Canyon Creek through some tough transitions. Personally, he cut out a bunch of time from other work he could have done to help me get oriented to Temple and to life at Canyon Creek. At the time I did not realize how unutterably invaluable that was. Trey, a reminder to myself that I owe you!
This year, we get to say audibly:
* for your skill as a minister,
* for your friendship– and the M&Ms you keep in your office,
* for the service you give to us,
* for your guiding pastoral direction,
* for the strength of your character,
* for your quiet devotion when no one is looking,
* for your humor,
* for the demands of a student ministry’s crazy schedule and what it demands from your family,
* for the impact on our children, youth, and burgeoning adults, we might not not readily perceive,
… we thank you. And we are proud of you!
April 27th we will have a Luncheon at 12:00 p.m. We are doing this in April so that college students can also come and participate.