SUNDAY BREAKFAST SPECIAL

The following morning an interesting phone call woke us up. “If the families Mirilov and Klemm have no objections in half an hour we are coming to you for a special breakfast. You set the table and we’ll bring all the food and drinks.” This was the head deacon and his wife the church treasurer.

Mum and dad were awake talking in bed and so gladly received the news. “I think this is in your honour,” I teased them. Miriam and Natasha immediately jumped up from their beds when told about the surprise breakfast. In no time they were ready and rushed to set the table.

We all eagerly waited for the doorbell to ring. The fun started as soon as our friends stepped in. The aroma of the baskets of food they brought filled our home. That was some breakfast indeed fit for the royalty! Delicious German bread, buns and pretzels and appetising spreads, breakfast cereals, fresh fruits and vegetables, desserts, hot and cold drinks. The food definitely made us all very happy and content but there was more to it than to be fed.

That morning after a “yummy breakfast”, as the girls described it, there was so much talk about God’s love. Our friends shared their experiences how God befriended them and how they are on a journey with Him. They talked about life as it is with all its ups and downs, happy moments and blows and what difference it had made to them keeping connected to God. They openly talked about their weaknesses, temptations and struggles but also how they claim God’s mercy and power in their lives.

Mum and dad had so much to share too. They talked about God who had patiently waited for them all these years, how they felt God calling them but them not ready to respond to Him. They talked how busy they were with their everyday lives, trying to make ends meet and how it seemed that commitment to God would be just an additional responsibility. It was only when they let God show His love in different life situations that they realised commitment goes both ways, between God and us. My parents were naming the recent events that had happened in their lives where they could see God showing them His mercy and power.

The girls learned a song that was granny’s favourite “I’m near you even when you don’t see it”. The song talks about hard moments in life when we don’t see God’s presence but God assures us that those are the moments when His hands are there to protect us. She asked them to sing it for us. The song spoke to all of us and it was like a dessert to our spiritual breakfast. What a lovely surprise the whole morning was, we all thoroughly enjoyed it.

29. “I HEARD HIM SING”

After two weeks our car was ready to be collected in Serbia. Branislav travelled to collect it, and on the way back Joseph accompanied him. It was such a treat to see him, and that in Germany. Although the trip was long and not so comfortable he made it. He was able to walk well and regained his weight and strength and none could tell that he had had such an accident. He told us how for Christmas he went for a 3 km run and although he felt as if his whole body was falling apart he didn’t give up. He tested his strength and determination.

Mum and dad were so happy to see Joseph and eager to share their news with him. Mum let dad have that privilege. The following day dad and Joseph walked Miriam and Natasha to the music school, and as they waited there dad shared their decision with Joseph. “Son, mum and I have decided to get baptised and Branislav is getting us ready for that.” Joseph’s reaction was, “I always thought that I would be the first one to make that step. Congratulations! I’m proud of both of you.”

Joseph continued giving dad instructions, “Dad when you return home as baptised Christians you need to be brave and not to hide or apologize to anyone for your faith. When people ask you why is it that you don’t keep pigs and don’t eat pork don’t say it’s for health reasons, say because the Bible teaches me so. On Saturday when you get dressed to go to church and wait for the bus, say to people that you are going to church because it’s the Biblical Sabbath although they might disagree with you. Don’t be ashamed of who you are and be brave.” This definitely encouraged my dad; the support of the son whom they respected so much and his opinion always mattered. They were so deeply wrapped up in the conversation that they didn’t notice when the girls came out from their classes and went home without them.

Joseph joined us for the church services and the evening concert. The church community was glad to see the man for whom they had earnestly prayed. When we returned home and before getting ready for bed I went to see if Joseph was comfortable. I saw him crying and thought that he was in pain. “Joseph was the whole day just too much for you?” I enquired. “Oh, no. On the contrary it was all so enjoyable. I’m so happy and I can’t help crying. Today for the first time in my whole life I heard our father singing. When we stood up for the hymnals in the church dad sang. I couldn’t believe my ears. Our Father sang and he sang praises to God.” As Joseph spoke both of us were crying.

We were brought up to respect our parents, which we did. Our father was a hard- working and honest man. We knew that life was hard for him, but we missed tenderness and joy from him. There were rare moments that we could recollect seeing dad truly happy. He was more a family man and social occasions were a burden for him rather than a treat, and he never sang. So what Joseph experienced that day was a miracle. Our father sang and he sang praises to God.

Date: 2015-12-24; view: 649