Meanwhile at Aunt Karen's...
"Remi, are you hungry?"
"Remi ALWAYS hungry!"
"HaHa! How bout some Mac n Cheese?"
"Ummm"
Thankfully, Karen was taking care of Remi.
Things at the hospital could have been better, but they could have been worse.
Alice and the girls were back from lunch, and Dan & JoJo were in the ICU Waiting Room.
Samantha said, "I hope y'all haven't been here the entire time!"
JoJo took the lead, "No, Dad and I spent some time in the chapel."
Jane, Samantha's mother responded, "Honestly, my sister Trudy and I have not been to church in a long time. We have not prayed in a long time. Our daddy took us to the river every Sunday when we were growing up. Heck, I didn't know anything about church...until Samantha was born. I talked to Trudy about going to the church down the road, The First Self-Righteous Church. She said that would be a good idea. They could help us raise Samantha--the correct way. So, when Samantha was about 2, we walked down to the church. But...."
Alice jumped in, "What Jane?"
With a mist in her eyes, Jane uttered, "They laughed at us. Our clothes were older than theirs. Shoot, we looked bad. But, I never knew you needed to look good to go to church!"
Alice again, took the lead, "That is awful! Jane, it matters what is on the inside of a person, not what is on the outside."
Jane said, "That's what I thought, but..."
Alice pushed things (maybe a little too far), "Did you stay for the service?"
Jane shed a tear. "No, we left after a few minutes. We could hear the mean things the people were saying. I started drinking bad after that. Trudy too. We went out every Saturday night. Sometimes, we took Samantha with us. We found a quiet back room at most bars, and left her there."
Jane was now in full Boo Hoo mode, and Alice realized she asked too many questions.
Alice suggested the men go home. JoJo had a baseball game at 5:00, and Karen was probably feeding Remi Mac n Cheese.
After a brief conversation between JoJo and Samantha, the fellers left.
Alice suggested that Samantha, Jane, and she go in the chapel. That is what happened. They were joined by a fourth member...Jesus. Jane poured out her heart. Jane knew Samantha had changed.
"I want what my daughter has, Alice! Is it too late for me?"
"NEVER!" Alice exclaimed.
Samantha stepped in, "Momma, I love you! Jesus does, too! I know He is here with us right now!"
"Oh, Honey....how can you know?"
"Jesus promises in God's Word that He will be where 2 or 3 gather in His name!"
"Oh Samantha! I am so proud of you! What must I do to be saved?"
Samantha told her about the account in Acts 16. "Momma a mean crowd beat 2 men with wood rods."
"What were their names and WHY?!"
"Their names were Paul and Silas. They ruined some men's business by casting a demon out of their fortune teller."
"Oh my. Did the business men beat em?"
"No, they told lies on them to the city officials. Then, this mob formed."
"Like in the movies?"
"Exactly! After they were beaten, they got thrown in jail."
"I've been there a few times."
"True. But, did you ever pray and sing hymns at midnight?"
"Heck no!"
"That is what they did."
"Why??"
"They loved Jesus!"
"Well, don't stop now, honey! Tell me the rest of the story."
"So...Suddenly, there was this BIG earthquake. The jail doors flew open, and the prisoners chains fell off!"
"Ha, I bet they high-tailed it outta there!"
"That's what the jailer thought, too. He knew he would die for letting them escape, so he drew his sword to kill himself."
"That's awful. He didn't cause the earthquake. Heck fire!"
"Before he could kill himself, Paul shouted for him to STOP. The jailer saw the prisoners were all there."
"And, what happened next??"
"The jailer asked what you just asked---WHAT MUST I DO TO BE SAVED?"
"Honey, PLEASE tell me." Jane was sobbing.
"Believe in the Lord Jesus and you will be saved, along with everybody else in your household."
"Did he believe?"
"Yes mam! The jailer took em home, clean their wounds, and fed em!"
"Did he get saved?"
"Yes mam! He and his whole family believed in the Lord Jesus and were saved! They even got baptized that night."
"Honey, my heart is warm. I want Jesus to come into my heart and be my Lord and Savior!"
"Well, do you believe He is the Son of God? That He died on a cross for your sins, and was raised on the third day?"
"I do!"
"Praise the Lord, Momma! You are saved!"
Alice had been sitting back watching, now shouted, "PRAISE THE LORD!!!"
Jane fell to her knees and kept repeating, "Thank you, Jesus! Thank you, Jesus!"
Samantha couldn't wait to tell JoJo!!
No comments:
Post a Comment