When I think of the love God has for me and His creation, I am blown away. Creating a world and humanity, creating a garden, and sharing daily walks with Adam and Eve. Making a way for redemption from sin when we fail. God’s saving grace is something that we may not be able to fully understand in this world.
I can see this same type of love demonstrated by my mom. She is such a caring and loving person. She has always been there for me and our family. Taking care of me when I was sick or injured as a child. Praying for me constantly, but even more when I was a teenager. She knew just how to help me deal with life’s struggles.
When I was in 3rd grade, we moved from Del City to Kingfisher, Oklahoma. My dad started pastoring a small church there and my mom worked at the Health Department in town. I had to change schools and I remember many nights spent talking to my mom about how I didn’t have any friends in this new town. She would comfort me and encourage me to look for others in my school who needed a friend. She would remind me that God was in control, and she would always pray with me. It seemed like forever at the time, but I did make friends and by summer we would ride our bikes all over town and hang out together.
One of the friends I made during this time was Vance. He was like me; he didn’t have a lot of friends either. We started hanging out those next few years. As we moved into junior high, our relationship changed, we made other friends and life went on. When I was in 10th grade, we moved back to Oklahoma City. Of course, I wasn’t excited about this move either, but I know my mom was praying for me during this transition as well. I was leaving my life in Kingfisher, which I thought was everything because I was in High School.
During my senior year, I got a call from a friend in Kingfisher that Vance had been killed in a car wreck. It took me by such shock at the time. I remember Mom comforting me when I was experiencing something so painful at such a young age.
As I look back and remember my friend Vance, I can’t help but think about the grace of God and the love of my mother. While we don’t always understand the things that happen in our lives, may we always trust in God’s love for us. A love like my mother’s love.
Brent Manning, Director of Communications
