by Carol

One of my favorite Bible verses is Psalm 118:24. "This is a day the Lord hath made, we will rejoice and be glad in it." Thoughts raced through my head on one very special day. It was the day of my son’s ordination into the ministry. Ronny had been out of town during the week prior to this event, because he knew "Mom" would take care of the planning and organization. The service was set for 7:00 P.M. There were so many details to remember. My nerves were on edge. Yet, through it all, prayer and a heart full of pure joy carried me along. Burl, my darling husband of thirty-three years, helped comfort me with many of his loving bear hugs. He said, "we have been blessed with four wonderful, talented, loving children who have grown into successful, happy adults." Each individual is like a unique fabric, and when woven together they form our family tapestry.

Kevin was always our "Mr. Fix It." Ronny was our magician constantly playing tricks on everyone. Jason’s terrific sense of humor always kept us laughing. Our daughter, Victoria, survived growing up with three big brothers and amazed us with her artistic talent. Each child was a special gift from God. I chose to be a "stay at home" mom, and nurture these precious gifts. Caring for Burl and the children was my career. Thankfully, all four children grew up to become successful in their chosen career fields. I am so proud of them. When Ronny answered his call to enter the ministry, it brought me joy beyond belief.

While growing up, Ronny was a sweet loving child who was full of kindness and compassion. When he was in high school, the Good Lord spoke to my heart and let me know he was meant for great things. I did not understand exactly what his future would be, but somehow I always felt he would enter the ministry. The night I "knew" something special was in store for Ronny, our family was attending one his A Cappella Choir concerts. For some reason, I was looking at everyone’s feet as they climbed onto the risers. Suddenly, I felt a warm comforting feeling. It floated over me like a soft invisible veil. When I looked up from the feet that gave me this feeling, it was my son. Just as "Mary treasured and pondered these things in her heart" (Luke 2:19), this is a memory I will forever treasure and ponder in my heart. Today, I understand that since I was looking at Ronny’s feet when the revelation occurred, it was God’s way of telling me Ronny was going to follow in the footsteps of Jesus. As a Christian and a mother, I continually give thanks for that wonderful act of love. I can feel the arms of Jesus envelop me each time I remember that moment. There have been many times in my life when I have "known" and/or "felt the presence" of Jesus, but that time literally overwhelmed me. Now, years later, I was about to experience the culmination of God’s revelation to me as I prepared to participate in the sacred ordination service. On Ronny’s special day, I was excited, proud, humble, bewildered, and happy all at the same time. In fact, I was so engrossed in my own thoughts that the current weather conditions never entered my mind. When we left for the church, the sky looked dark and ominous. "A little rain is not going to spoil this day," I declared.

As people began arriving for the rehearsal, everyone had a different story. Some said, "it is just a summer storm." Others said, "it is very dangerous out there." We were gathered in the church basement with no windows, and we did not know how bad the weather had become. It was raining heavily. Then hail covered the ground. Lightning was striking all around the city. Many people were driving hundreds of miles to attend this service, and we began to pray for their safety. Our great day of excitement quickly turned to panic when we realized the severity of the storm raging outside. Several people were forced to turn back by the Highway Patrol. All routes were underwater. Many people called the church to express their dismay. Several people had been trapped in their cellars because of the hail and high wind. They wanted to attend, but they could not make it. The video photographer was late. He said, "I had to stop and seek shelter beneath an underpass on the freeway." The stories just continued to get worse. One elderly gentleman, who braved the weather to attend Ronny’s special event, fell on the wet parking lot and was injured. As I prepared to watch my beloved son become an ordained minister, the tornado sirens were blasting throughout Wichita Falls. My heart sank. As we came up the stairs from the church basement into the sanctuary, I felt so disappointed. I thought to myself…there will only be a handful of people here to honor Ronny and share in our joy. However, to my surprise, the pews were full! More than two hundred people attended. Why did I ever doubt that God was "at work?" My heart almost burst with joy and tears of happiness were streaming down my face. God’s presence was brightly visible in our church on that dark stormy night. The ordination was the most worshipful service I have ever experienced. Ronny’s choice of music was awe inspiring. Songs like, "What If …what they say is true?," "The Lord’s Prayer," and "Here I Am, Lord." had me fighting back more tears of joy. My composure came directly from heaven. At the completion of the service, Burl and I presented Ronny with his black pulpit robe. I read the following words to him:

"Ronny, always remember the love that first drew you to Jesus and the faith that joins your heart to His. May your ministry be filled with much happiness as you serve God’s people. Each time you put on this robe, may you feel our arms wrapped around you with love - just as God’s arms are wrapped around you with love and joy."

Burl and I served as elders at the communion table with Ronny. It was a unique experience to share with him, because presiding over the communion table was his first "official act" as an ordained minister. After we took communion, we were seated in the chancel area while the congregation was served. Rain continued to pound the church, and thunder rattled the stained glass windows. Ronny whispered in my ear, "I wanted my ordination to be memorable, but this is not what I had in mind!" We were trying not to laugh. Then he jokingly said, "Do you think God is trying to tell me something?"

Watching Ronny survive the difficult years of seminary, witnessing his tenacity and his ability to always do the right thing (even though it sometimes means trouble for himself), has been inspiring. His unwavering faith in God makes him a shining example for others. He lives his life solely to glorify God. I embrace his kind spirit, his love of Jesus, and his ministry that lies ahead. As my own walk in faith is sometimes tested, I do not have to look very far to see God’s love in action. Ronny’s commitment to "go forth and spread the Good News" makes me a very proud mother. I feel truly blessed for having been chosen to parent "one who has chosen to answer God’s call."

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