When you say the word in-law I often think of someone who should have a badge or be working on a court case or something. You know like, Hey, there's my friends Dad he's in law. I know that doesn't make a bunch of sense but I am just stating the obvious (to me at least). The point - my mother and father "in-law" were here for the last few days, they left this morning. A lot people say that having their "in-laws" around is a struggle, but actually I like mine. I really enjoy challenging my "in-laws" in new ways. Challenging their beliefs, their traditions. I love them because not only they good, honest and sincere people, but you can see in them, what we should always see on each other; an earnest desire to please the Master.
They are very straight forward about their faith and I have had some interesting thoughts about this lately, in light of my recent struggles. People who don't grow up in "the church" don't serve the Lord the way people who didn't do. O.K. I know that generalizing is a bad idea, and that there are always exceptions, but it's true. My mother and father in law (we'll call em George and Mary for further discussion - cause that are their names) are so passionate about being Christians, and I believe each day they continually seek out God in all that they do and say. See, George was converted when he was 25, he had never been to a church, a church service or any of the like. He met someone who went to the local NI church of Christ and they invited him along, he was very interested and was baptized. On his own he studied and studied and quickly decided, "something ain't right" as he says, "for people who have the love of Christ, something was missing." So he began to search and ended up at White's Ferry Rd (WFR) in West Monroe, La. Isn't that amazing that after he became a Christian he wasn't satisfied. I always challenge our teens to never believe that they have arrived, because when you think you have God will remind you that you have a long way to go.
Likewise, Mary grew up in the Baptist church, the kind where if your were black they had a church for you down the street, and black folks even went to their own heaven. Not the one that white folks went to, talk about sheer ridiculousness (is that a word?) When Mary met George they fell in love quickly and were married when she was only 18, George was 28. Talk about a gap. He and his young bride went through some difficult times, but shortly after they were married, Mary was re-baptized into "the church." It's kind of sad, think of this, George told me that after they were married a couple of years and he and Mary began serving in the church at WFR. A woman they met at church came up to him and said, "That wife of yours is a good lady, Baptists make pretty good Christians don't they?" How profound. Yikes! Calgon take me away.
I am not going to sit and write about all of the accomplishments of my "in-laws" but I will say this, for two people who didn't grow up in the church, they sure have it together. Before Mary was 25 they had lived for six years in a child care home, raising foster children. I appreciate their spirit and their example. It makes me realize one thing, us "coc'ers" born and raised need to get our act together, because for some people who have "a corner on the truth" (whoever came up with those words needs to be....Anyway) we sure don't live like it.
Many of the best Christian people I know, didn't grow up in "the church" and I think the reason that many of them are so zealous is that there is no apathy, no complacency, just thankfulness for the best gift they've ever gotten.
I really love my "in-laws" and I am so proud of them. I started writing this morning because I was thinking of them as they pulled away from my house. What a blessing to me they are!
Lord, please be with George and Mary as they travel today. I am so thankful for all that they mean to my family and your church. Bless us all to be more like you and more like them! Amen.
JD said...
Chris, I also have great godly in-laws, and I feel so blessed by that. Good thoughts throughout this post. We should be settled in our assurance and trust ... but never settled and stale in our spiritual journey. There's always something new to learn because God is so much higher than we are. Keep learning and stretching.
Serena Voss said...
Isn't it nice to love your in-laws! Mine are pretty grand, too!
