Close to Family Who Live Far Away... Not so Hopeless After All!

Expectations fulfilled! What joy we had at being together in Texas despite my poor brother giving up his bed for my hubby and me and leaving his two Rottweilers beyond the reach of potential meals made of Polish visitors!  Those two monsters got to love us too by the end, thankfully!

My great hope of helping my dear brother communicate with us overseas has been realized: he can now use a new 'freebie' phone (you gotta love Black Week!). Will he use it?  We shall see! I hope this tech dinosaur can learn new skills. He has a willing and able teacher at his church...

Best of all was meeting Brad's new family!  Not a 'typical' one. The little church he meets with, a group of believers with open hearts, even cared for their extended Polish family with our arrival. This tiny church had given sacrificially to the Ukrainian refugees through Polish practical and online work. So family indeed!

When church fellowships gather together in the South, there is always food.  And what food!  There were not one but two Thanksgiving dinners. Sunday, the church had one together, and then on Thanksgiving Day that Thursday, the pastor and his dear wife invited us to theirs, again on the church premises, because that is one numerous clan! Thank God I did not have to make a turkey feast of our own; my brother's kitchen is limited at best. But an extra kilo or two did get packed onto my body and my husband's for the return trip home... AND, to that, thanks to master Texan cooks in action. 

Time spent with both old friends and new was special,  it turned out very special indeed as this was the last time I saw my oldest friend from school days.  Teresa was already very ill but able to visit at that church Thanksgiving.  As I returned home to Europe, word soon came that she had passed away after an emergency operation.  We can never take for granted the time we are given with loved ones.  This friend was more like a sister.  She is with our Lord now...

As walkers, we investigated the nature reserves, parks, and lake walks in Ft. Worth. Deer, prairie dogs, monarch butterflies, and hawks were among the wildlife we saw (not to mention those two rottweillers!) We even sport new suntans, believe it or not, late November, no less! One famed art museum with lots of Rembrandt completed our sightseeing.

Best of all was seeing my brother steadfast in his love for Jesus!!  Two special verses came to mind...

For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of God’s glory displayed in the face of Christ. But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us.   1 Corinthians 4:6,7.

Jars of clay is no exaggeration, for though he is the least typical of believers, an old hippie with little regard for the usual norms and values in American life, he shines for God each day as he works as a plumber, as he travels on his Harley chopper, as he shares gospel tracts with cashiers, and as he serves in his church fellowship, preaching as given opportunity, helping the sick and keeping the church property in tip-top shape. 

No doubt, you have caught the proud sister speaking here.  God knows he is not perfect!  Sisters know! But Brad is all HIS! The Lord's!  Oh, I wish that we (myself included) could follow our Lord so closely, in his learning and serving the Lord with gladness.

We may never return home to Texas when we consider our ages.  One thing is for sure, my brother and I will meet again in heaven if not earlier. 

Love for family, be they ever so far away, can be a great gift and well worth nurturing in the here and now, close or far across the seas as they may be.  Even for us anti-communicative hermits. The family in Christ is family too!  If you haven't got one, you are missing a great joy and place of service He has for you.

I wish you all such joy, and thanksgiving for what God has given to you in HIM!  It needn't be just one day and one dinner on a calender in the USA. He gives greater in His Son, and through Him, to us all.

Own photos: My brother, Brad, is ready to share at church.