| Luke 22:19 – “Then Jesus took bread and spoke a prayer of thanksgiving. He broke the bread, gave it to them, and said, “This is my body, which is given for you. Do this to remember Me.” |
We returned from a short trip to San Angelo. My wife was wanting to change the spot where we store our suitcases and duffle bags. She asked me to organize some things in the top of the closet, which I did. Later in the day, she showed me a stack of greeting cards and said that I might want to look at them. Me: “Where did they come from?” She: “They were in the top of the closet.” Me: “Why have you saved them?” She: “They were sent to Benjamin when he had his eye injury.” Me: “Oh!” That was in 2006.
Thanksgiving. We were in Mississippi visiting my wife’s sister. All the cousins (six of them) were having a war outside with air soft guns. They shoot a spring loaded plastic BB. We made all of them wear goggles, which they did. As the day wore on, it began to get dark. Benjamin was in the hayloft, and could not see well enough to climb down. He removed his eye protection so he could see more clearly going down the ladder. He suffered a direct hit to one eye. I remember where I was when I heard the call for help. We dropped everything and got him to the hospital. It turned our world upside down for some time to come. If you are blessed to have children, you most likely will or have had a moment like this. Accidents will happen.
As I reviewed the stack of cards, one of the first was from his then 8 year old younger brother. Hand made. “No roughhousing” was the message, a reference to the doctor’s orders not to make any sudden movements as his injury was healing. So many said “we are praying for you”. Notes from his school mates and teachers. Friends from church. One was a surprise. Something I had forgotten. It was from a parent in our Cub Scout Pack. They had cake sales at a few pack meetings to raise a few dollars. The card said they had dedicated the most recent sales to us. Included in the card was the cash from the sales (plus some donations). I believe it was near to five hundred dollars. I was touched just reading about it after it was 16 years gone.
Each Sunday, we take communion. I think I see more clearly why. “Remember Me.” Jesus’ simple instructions. How could we forget such a wonderful thing? Well, I need reminders. How about you?
Father in heaven, thank You for giving us a way to recall how much we are loved, in Jesus’ name, Amen!
– Jeff Beall
