Previous Challenge Entry (Level 1 – Beginner)
Topic: Purposefulness (Purpose in Life) (05/25/06)
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TITLE: Gregg and the Snake | Previous Challenge Entry
By Peggy Mc Intyre
05/31/06 -
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The sermon proceeded as usual with my next oldest brother and I trying to pay attention, my youngest brother trying to figure out what it was that held the pews together and my parents taking turns tapping him on whatever body part was accessible, then giving him a threatening look when he turned an innocent, questioning glance their way. This constant activity is a bit less distracting for the congregation when we sit on the back pew.
About halfway through the sermon a loud and prolonged rumble of thunder rattled the windows of the church. My dad glanced at the heavy clouds through the window. It would have been awkward for him to run out and close the car windows from our second row seats so he sent my youngest brother. Assumedly it is less distracting for a seven year old to run up the aisle than for an adult, at least you would think so.
My brother left happily on his errand. Soon we began to hear muffled laughter from the back of the church and my dad remembered that his youngest son was still gone. It was not long before the laughter stopped being muffled and the pastor was forced to pause in the delivery of his sermon. We all looked around to see what the distraction was. There was my youngest brother with a ten foot long stuffed snake across his shoulders like a feathered boa twirling the ends and vamping his way down the center aisle. The more the congregation laughed the more pronounced his swagger became. Finally he waltzed close enough for my dad to grab him and his snake. The snake was stuffed under the pew and my brother was given the very serious ‘just wait until you get home’ whisper. My dad spent the rest of the service slouched down in his seat. I was pretty sure that my youngest brother was in very serious trouble.
Another problem with sitting in the second row is that it is virtually impossible to sneak out of the sanctuary after the service. My dad led the way carrying the ten foot long stuffed snake and looking as dark as the thunder clouds that had made him send my brother to the car. Unfortunately, the rest of the congregation did not facilitate our quick departure. Everyone wanted to say something to the parents of the little boy with the great Mae West imitation.
A young couple made their way through the crowd to my parents. He had his arm around his wife protectively as she seemed to be laughing and crying at the same time. He moved his arm and took my dad’s hand in both of his and thanked my dad quite sincerely for what God had done that day through my little brother. It seems that this couple had lost a child sometime earlier and this was the first time since then that they had been able to laugh and they had laughed until they cried at my brother’s antics, the laughter breaking down the walls of grief that had held them prisoners.
The story of this young couple brought tears to the eyes of both of my parents. My dad left the church in a state of humility before God. He had a clear realization, while listening to this story, that the God he served was big and powerful and the he was very small. My brother did not get in trouble though the snake never again got to ride in the car on the way to church.
Romans 8:28 says, “And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.”
Think that everything about that event was orchestrated by God for His purpose. He used my brother Gregg to fulfill that purpose. A few short years later my parents experienced the pain of losing a child themselves when my brother Gregg was hit and killed by a car, his purpose apparently fulfilled.
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This is also a beautiful and touching tribute to both your dad and your little brother. I'm sure this story is something your family will treasure always. Thank you for letting us share it, too.