So today I finished work and was thinking.... Thinking of all the studying I was going to get done, workbook pages accomplished, a test finished, some photo editing completed, attend a reception for some missionary's from our church, and a host of other items.
Well, God had other plans.
After dinner we all headed out to the church. For the past 8 years or so we had grown up spending lots of time with the Roberts family whenever they were in the states on furlough. Mr. Roberts was a missionary with New Tribes Missions (NTM) in the Phillipines. Formerly a pilot he now maintained the fleet of airplanes NTM had there in the Philipines. Working with pilots like Matin Burnham and many others. Mrs. Roberts taught in the school for the other MK's on the compound and worked with the locals. While in the states many an afternoon was spent at the Roberts house or with their three children, Brian, Jon, and Amber, over at our house. The Roberts were servants to ALL. No matter if they were half way around the world or in Tulsa, OK they were constantly serving others. During the winter of 2001 my mom broke her "good" ankle. Having polio as a young child her left leg was already very weak and unstable by itself. So, when she broke her right leg she was for all practical purposes immobilized. Not long after breaking her leg it snowed a record snow for OK. Almost a FOOT of white powder lay on the ground. But with mom unable to drive we had to be content to play in the front yard. Mom meanwhile was bemoaning the fact that she was not able to take us to the large retention pond less than a mile away to sled on the BIG snow.
Just moments after pouring her heart out to the Lord there was a knock on the door. And there stood Mrs. Roberts, Amber, and Jon. Mrs Roberts announced that she was here to take us kids sleeding and to hurry and get dressed. What an answer to the desire of my mom's heart. We spent that eveining and several others racing down the slopes with the Roberts kids, making snow men, and many other fun things.
3 years later found Jon in the Army. He loved his country and was proud to be an AMERICAN. In 2005 Jon was deployed to Iraq. On a sweltering August day in 2005 he was driving a vehicle down a highway in rural Iraq. As he was drinvg down the road he was met by a semi driven by a local. The semi crossed the center line of the hignway and struck Jon's vehicle head on. This left Jon in critical condition fighting for his life. He suffered massive injuries including brain damage. He was flown to Germany and then on to the US for treatment. The Doctors said he would never walk or talk again. His parents were flown back to the US from the mission field and he spent the next 6months in the hospital. Today he can walk with assistance, use a few words, and interact via his "typer".
As I sat listening to Jon, his parents, and Amber share what God had done in their lives since that time I was reminded of Jerimiah 29:11. They had plans 3 years ago and this was not in what they thought they would be doing. I had plans even for tonight. But they were not God's. Jon is content with where God has him. His responses to questions posed to him, his love for his family, and most importantly God was so evident. As I sat there listening to them share I was once again struck with the Love they have for one another and their selfless sacrifices day in and day out to care for Jon. What a blessing it was to spend several hours with the Roberts last night. I came home totally refreshed in a great way.
Father I pray you will help me to seek You with all my heart and serve each person that you bring across my path whether it is conveniant or not, whether it fits my plans or not, whether I feel like it or not.
Stand Strong!
2 comments:
Wow! That is a great testimony Richard!
The Robert's are so special! What a testimony they are of what it means to be content. Playing soccer at church with them, going sledding, and just hanging out with them.... so much fun! So good to see them again!
Post a Comment