Yesterday I was honored in a very touching and exceptional way by an extraordinary and very special person. This event was designed to be a complete surprise for me and I was kept in the dark and only told that I needed to go to a very special meeting. I was busier than an ant repairing a crushed ant hill preparing for our Bill Glass board meeting, and our inaugural Honey Lake Church service this Sunday, as well as a myriad of CEO type problems, and didn’t want to go to any secretive meetings, (special or not), but the friend who invited me happens to be a very close friend, and he told me it was important.
I’m delighted that I went, because his beautiful young daughter gave a speech in front of her entire school about my life and recapped how the many dark obstacles of homelessness, addictions, violence, crime, and despair in my life were ultimately conquered through my teaming up with Jesus whereby He could miraculously transform my life.
Her speech ended with this: “Bob’s life story teaches us that God loves us no matter what. It also proves that even in today’s crazy world, there still is hope. Bob is my hero because of how he persevered. Even when he had nothing, he had a miracle!”
This little girl whose name is “Gracie” made this tough old buzzard tear up and dab away at my old eyes. After her speech she came running over to me and hugged me like I hug my pup Coopie and that gesture didn’t help dry them up I tell you.
I was told by her parents that she independently came up with the idea to honor me in this fashion months ago and she worked very hard on this speech practicing it over and over again. She was competing with several other students, but alas she didn’t win the blue ribbon with her well-presented speech.
Afterwards I called and told her that I knew she was disappointed that she didn’t win the blue ribbon, but that I wanted to assure her that she won the GOLD MEDAL with me, and as far as I’m concerned those judges were nothing but a bunch of buffoons and got it entirely wrong.
Hmmm…I was thinking this morning that we followers of Christ are similar to little Gracie. Some hunter guests who are staying at our resort and I were talking last night about how being a Christian is difficult these days and how society frowns on even mentioning the name of Jesus or Christ even when we try to wish someone Merry Christmas.
It tells me that while we may lose the liberal (Obama) blue ribbon committee’s approval, we should continue to hold our heads high, because we win the gold medal with our God through our faith in Him.
And in the end that is all that really matters.
I receive all kinds of crazy hate laced e-mails from a world gone mad, but as little Gracie so eloquently stated, “Bob’s life story teaches us that God loves us no matter what. It also proves that even in today’s crazy world, there still is hope”.
The point Gracie’s message makes is what our new ministry is all about. God loves us no matter what we’ve done, or what this crazy world might think of those of us who choose to follow Jesus. How appropriate that this little angel’s name is Gracie, because this little girl exemplifies GRACE and she has knowledge of God’s mercy that is far beyond her young years.
Have a great weekend and go to Church this Sunday! Might even want to try our new church for a weekend of faith, family, friends, and fun! Services begin at 10 a.m. – Jesus awaits your presence and He wants to give you His Hope, Love, and Peace at Honey Lake Plantation – (Get it? – HLP/Honey Lake Plantation – Hope, Love, Peace – Oh yeah!)
Matthew 16:26
And what do you benefit if you gain the whole world but lose your own soul? Is anything worth more than your soul?