Farming is dangerous. At eleven years of age I was made very well of this when the father of seven children from our church was killed. He wasn't the last person I knew that was killed in a farming accident.
If you read the news you know the story. Train hit by a swather. Young man life flighted to Wichita. Devastating, how could anyone flirt so closely with death and survive? Even as helicopter blades blew over the soil of a farm field; already phone calls were being made and word was spreading quickly about the plight of this young man. Emergency crews of course couldn't arrive right away, but there was someone there to comfort. Close to the accident site lived a family from Jarad's church. The couple soothed Jarad with words and right there at the accident site they prayed. When he felt so alone and there was someone to say that everything was going to be alright. Others quickly heard the news and sent up cries of help in prayer not knowing if they would see mischievous smile of Jarad again.
Before the newspapers and media ever heard about the story a whole community of people rose up to pray for him.
All this went on that Friday morning without me knowing. Away at camp I couldn't answer my cell phone and when I did see my brother's name as a missed call instantly I knew something was wrong. He told me that the man that had been such clown in some of the wedding pictures of his big sister, also the wedding of my big brother, had been hit by a train, but was going to be okay.
I didn't know till later that of course it was question if he would actually live. Being hit by a train isn't exactly the most safest thing in the world. Just a few days later though there are still no brain injuries and though the story isn't over yet he is alive. The family still shudders when they hear a train whistle. Whispers of thanks go through our brains and we try so hard not to think of the what ifs.
We will go to church this morning and it will be a normal Sunday. A Sunday that so easily could have been a time of mourning for a life snuffed out.
Nobody fully understands how the accident happened. Nobody quite understands how he is alive, but all we know in those few horrible seconds Friday morning there was Someone watching out for Jarad. In the moments that followed there were the very tiny wondrous ways that it was evidence Jarad was being taken care of. Yes it was Friday the 13th, but there was not a stroke of bad luck. Bad things just happen. We don't like them, but then happen. What happened to Jarad was a bad thing, but there were the good things. In fact looking back over the events more good things happened then bad. Strangely yet not so so very strangely there has been more good that came out of the supposedly unlucky Friday the 13th then bad.
Friday the 13th last week was a very good day.
Sunday, July 15, 2012
Wednesday, July 4, 2012
we are family
Ice cream, talking and more talking, swimming, laughing and some crying, games, and then more ice cream. Pretty much that has been my life for the past few days. From hither and yonder the aunts and uncles, and cousins came for our family reunion. Not a family to do things half way we have been partying in style. Amongst all the fun the fun and joking there was the quiet moments too.
One hundred and fifty some voices quoting the 100th psalm. Voices just loud enough to be heard speaking their thankfulness of the older generation. Breaking into song to sing the doxology before our meal.
Just as everyone becomes quiet some poor child who could have used a bit more sleep breaks into tears. Soon there is a whole chorus of crying. The great grandchildren reminding everyone they have a bit of maturing to do before they carry on family legacy.
I wonder if grandma ever thought she would see her family in such big numbers. When the first tiny baby lay in casket did grandpa wonder if there would ever be anyone to pass his farm onto? Could grandpa and grandma have imagined that some day there family would be scattered all over the world. Serving missions in the remote places of Mongolia and Africa and other countries, ministering with technology in Spain, and then the many who found time for a short term mission trip .
When for a few years after the baby was buried there weren't any children did they even dare to hope the family name would be carried forth? Grandma didn't know then she would go on to bring eleven children into the world. Grandma didn't know she would again have to bury a child. Not a child but a grown man, father of her seven grandchildren. Soon after grandma got to heaven herself two of her other children joined her.
The Busenitz mansion up in heaven seems to be already be filling up quite nicely. Naturally we are happy for those who get to party in heaven, but we aren't quite ready just yet to for everybody to go up there.
No, grandma probably didn't expect this. There probably wasn't time to think with so many little children under foot and big farm house to keep under control. Grandma kept busy bringing up her children in the Lord. Teaching them what was important and what was not important. This is why today we have our family the way it is, because of the goodness of God to give us a Christan heritage. We don't deserve it and grandma may not have expected it to be carried forth to the extent it has been.
God's blessings though are the most unexpected ones. Making us stop and thing about what we really have. One thing grandma did expect was God's faithfulness. Only God alone carried her as a young wife when she buried her first child. Each trial of life rooted grandma stronger in her faith and all of us family watched this testimony and put it into our lives. Sometimes we really didn't know the blessing God had given by letting us see His grace in action. For ever since a handsome farmer pledged his vows to a glowing bride, so many years ago it has been God's grace that has shaped our family.
By the grace of God we are family, all 200 some of us.
One hundred and fifty some voices quoting the 100th psalm. Voices just loud enough to be heard speaking their thankfulness of the older generation. Breaking into song to sing the doxology before our meal.
Just as everyone becomes quiet some poor child who could have used a bit more sleep breaks into tears. Soon there is a whole chorus of crying. The great grandchildren reminding everyone they have a bit of maturing to do before they carry on family legacy.
I wonder if grandma ever thought she would see her family in such big numbers. When the first tiny baby lay in casket did grandpa wonder if there would ever be anyone to pass his farm onto? Could grandpa and grandma have imagined that some day there family would be scattered all over the world. Serving missions in the remote places of Mongolia and Africa and other countries, ministering with technology in Spain, and then the many who found time for a short term mission trip .
When for a few years after the baby was buried there weren't any children did they even dare to hope the family name would be carried forth? Grandma didn't know then she would go on to bring eleven children into the world. Grandma didn't know she would again have to bury a child. Not a child but a grown man, father of her seven grandchildren. Soon after grandma got to heaven herself two of her other children joined her.
The Busenitz mansion up in heaven seems to be already be filling up quite nicely. Naturally we are happy for those who get to party in heaven, but we aren't quite ready just yet to for everybody to go up there.
No, grandma probably didn't expect this. There probably wasn't time to think with so many little children under foot and big farm house to keep under control. Grandma kept busy bringing up her children in the Lord. Teaching them what was important and what was not important. This is why today we have our family the way it is, because of the goodness of God to give us a Christan heritage. We don't deserve it and grandma may not have expected it to be carried forth to the extent it has been.
God's blessings though are the most unexpected ones. Making us stop and thing about what we really have. One thing grandma did expect was God's faithfulness. Only God alone carried her as a young wife when she buried her first child. Each trial of life rooted grandma stronger in her faith and all of us family watched this testimony and put it into our lives. Sometimes we really didn't know the blessing God had given by letting us see His grace in action. For ever since a handsome farmer pledged his vows to a glowing bride, so many years ago it has been God's grace that has shaped our family.
By the grace of God we are family, all 200 some of us.
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