My Sabbath

For the last few months, I have been attending my church and Louis’ church.  This morning was my first Sunday off from church since Lent started.  It really got me thinking about the meaning of taking a Sabbath. Although I am so glad I went to church with Louis each Sunday, I learned that I missed my Sunday Sabbath tremendously.

When Louis and I first started dating, I did not start attending his church.  As we got more serious, we also talked about what would happen once we got engaged and got married. The last thing I would want to do is offend him or his congregation.  I was (and am) heavily involved in my church, Commonwealth Chapel. In addition, they have a Saturday night service.  Since this service started, I quickly drew fond of the time and it became my regular worship time.  It was the beginning of my Sabbath.  My Sunday mornings became a precious time between me and the Lord.

After much discussion and prayer, Louis and I decided that I would continue to take Sunday’s off of traditional church. I know many of you might judge me saying…”You don’t go to church with your husband?”  and “You’re a pastor’s wife?”  “Bad wife!”  That’s ok…judge away!  :o) But, my Sunday mornings were a form of worship, not just in the way most people would look at it.  I am so grateful for our church family at Louis’ church for understanding!!  And, we get to see each other about once a month when I attend there and we often do visitation together.

Knowing that I am home on Sunday mornings, Everett (the Gardna) started to visit with me as well.  We would cook breakfast together, read the word and watch some Bobby Jones Gospel together on TV.  We had “church” together just about every Sunday morning.  (I am NOT advocating doing this as the only form of worship for any length of time.  Yes…you CAN meet with the Lord any time…day, night, weekend, but there is nothing that replaces the fellowship of gathering together for worship!) Everett would eventually fall asleep on the couch, and the Lord and I continued on together. Sunday’s totally rocked!  A true day of rest. In retrospect, it reminds me of the parable of the Lost Sheep.  The shepherd left the other 99 to go after the 1.  I was going after my 1….Everett.  Then, my Sunday’s changed.

After Frank progressed out of ICU, Frank and I mainly spent Sunday mornings together.  This allowed Vicky a morning off and Geraldine could worship at her church.  Thankfully, Commonwealth Chapel has Saturday evening services.  But, even if they didn’t…I wouldn’t have changed these moments with Frank for anything!  It was just the 2 of us…no distractions.  The first morning I went, Frank said something like it’s Sunday, are we doin’ church or what?  So, each Sunday morning, Frank and I would spend time reading the Bible and discussing what it meant.  Sometimes he would ask me to help him bathe, clean the blood out from under his nails, assist him in going to the bathroom….all kinds of personal stuff.

For some reason, he would rather me assist him than his nurse. Although it was awkward for me at first and I would resist big-time, the Lord would hear NONE of my excuses (and neither would Frank for, that matter), and I was reminded of Jesus washing the feet of his disciples.  I learned to perform these tasks with joy and love, and it became an intimate and bonding time for us.  I learned what the Lord was modeling that day….service.

We talked about all kinds of things…getting real.  Our pasts. Our lives. Our hopes. Our dreams. It wasn’t long before Frank was asking me about what was going on with Louis and me.  I often wonder if he just wanted to get the subject and focus off of him and onto someone or something else.  So, he too could see that Louis and I were “meant to be”.  He also came up with my nickname…”Angel”, short for Guardian Angel.  Through our talks and his conversations with others, Frank began to learn what God had done for him….how much God loved him and had a plan for his life.

As much as Frank understood and had truly accepted what the Lord had done for him, we talked about how life outside of the hospital would not be easy.  When Frank finally got out, the pull of the street and his past and the realities and struggles of living a righteous life was strong.  I have heard time and time again, that if you want to make a change…then you have to change your people, places and things.  If you don’t…it is nearly impossible.

Well, we would learn what would happen when Frank didn’t change his people, places and things…