We are just back from a two-week family vacation. We had such a great time with our dear
friends, the Pressley’s. Clint and
Connie (Mac and Nate) have been our friends for many years and we typically go
with them to an Island in Florida around this time of year. This year, as we headed down to Florida after
Sunday morning church, we learned that the island had been closed due to a
Tropical Storm. The island was without
power for about a week and we were searching for new vacation plans.
We met our friends in Tifton, GA and made it our ‘new
vacation’ place for the week. Tifton
isn’t generally considered a vacation destination but we didn’t spend much
time complaining. Family time and good
friends made the location insignificant.
God blessed our time and our small town vacation was actually pretty
fun. We went to the Tifton bowling alley
– the Tifton movie theatre – the Tifton Waffle House (actually there are two
Tifton Waffle Houses)– and the Tifton Chick-fil-A.
In our time there, we also walked the downtown area. On one particular walk, we crossed a railroad
track and Clint remarked that he and his oldest son were thinking of running
the railroad tracks on one of our afternoons.
That thought is probably harmless for most people, but standing on
those railroad tracks sent my mind to thoughts of my brother, Tommy -- thoughts
that stayed with me the whole two weeks.
Tommy was my great-looking oldest brother. He was 25 and I was in the third grade when
he died. In fact, I was in Mrs. Nelson’s
class at Darby Elementary in Ohio when I was told about Tommy. (I love Mrs. Nelson so much to this day. She was a comfort to me then and still cheerleads
me and Chris via Facebook.) Tommy was
hit by a train in the middle of the night.
He and his girlfriend were laying on the tracks hanging out late at
night right behind her parent’s home.
She went inside, he stayed outside a little longer and fell asleep on
the tracks. The train came through and Tommy
tried to escape, but his clothes got caught in the tracks.
My parents were in the thick of raising kids at that
time. My brother, Steve, was in college; my sister, Cathy, had just given birth to her first child; my sister, Karen, was
ready to start her first day at Ohio State and my brothers, Mitch and Johnny, were
in Middle School. My dad was an over the
road truck driver and out on a run in another state. My mom was working as a supervisor for the
State of Ohio. The police came by that
morning to have someone identify the body and my sister, Karen, was the only one
home. She is the sweetest girl, my heart
breaks knowing she was asked to do this at such a young age.
How could any family be prepared for what my parents would
have to deal with? My parents, who were
saved as adults and started a church in their home (that would later become
Southwest Community Church of the Nazarene – and still stands today) would be
forced into a situation in which their faith would be on display like they
couldn’t possibly have prepared for. But
the way they displayed their faith has been a remarkable testimony to the peace
that can only come from the Lord.
I love time to reflect.
Bedtime is the best time for me to reflect. I go over the day -- repent for feelings, thoughts and behaviors.
I ask the Lord to purify my heart and
draw me close to Him. These two weeks
away allowed for great reflection time.
I would start reading something and then my mind would wonder and I
would think of my extended family. I
love them all so much. However, there
are many things we have done as a family without Tommy. For me the list includes: the day I got
married, the day I had my first child and the day we bought our first home. Every big event and even some simple ones,
quickly make my heart remember that Tommy did not get to experience those
things. He was so much older than
me. He was really more like an
uncle. He went into the military and I
have no memory of us living in the house together.
I have just one memory of him. Breaks my heart – but it is the truth. He and his girlfriend came out to the house
one evening and took Johnny and me to the drive-in movies. It was an incredible night. I enjoyed it so much and he was so handsome
like my father. I loved every minute of
being his kid sister that night. He
reeked of cool! Once I got my license, I
would drive over to that same drive-in by myself just to remember him and then
go to his graveside.
My parents put “First One Home” on his gravestone. I love that.
That one act from my parents brought great peace to their children. My parent’s resolve to honor God and trust
Him sealed any doubt I had. I kept
looking, for years, for a chink in that resolve -- I never saw it. Their kindness to the conductor of that train
will be an incredible testimony I will tout for the Lord for all my days. The man feared facing my parents and he
desperately needed them to relieve some of his grief. My parents quickly did. They prayed for his relief when they prayed
for their own. Faith in the midst of a
trial, faith in the midst of lasting heartache -- my parents found a very
faithful God. He sustained them, kept
them, pursued them and rewarded them with peace and comfort.
I remember finding my mom, yearly, on Tommy’s birthday and
the date of his death, seeking time alone with the Lord to calm her sad
heart.
Teach your kids this kind of faith. Someday they may be called to serve Him and
your faithfulness might be what keeps their faith on track. My parent’s undeniable faith has encouraged
me on countless days.
I love the Lord. His
peace is real and true.
I will serve Him all my days.
Praying for my siblings who don’t confess a faith in
Jesus. Praying they repent and believe
His promises – and remember the undeniable testimony of our parents.
I love you all!!!
It is so good to be home and in love with Lee Park.
Becky ;)
