Sunday, June 22, 2008

Only in the "city"


I guess you could say that I am pretty much a country girl. I was born and raised in a small town in Jefferson County just north of Birmingham called Morris. Actually, we just had a Morris address. My real place of residency was in a little town (I think) called Haig. Where the population was a staggering 319. My family made up 5 of those. Anyway, everyone knew and still knows everyone else. Everybody looked out for each other and their property. In fact, once I got my license, I dared not to speed those streets because "Mama Jewel" Armour (an up the road neighbor) would call my daddy and tattle on me. What I'm getting at is that it was a really close knit, safe place to grow up. Jeff and I are now living in Laurel Mississippi. Our church is smack dab in the middle of a pretty rowdy city. It is still ironic to be sitting in the middle of a church service singing Victory in Jesus and hearing sirens blaring and tires screeching as ambulances, fire trucks and various police personnel attend to whatever emergency is out there. At the first two churches Jeff pastored, this kind of thing would have called for more than a few people to go out and investigate and then report on their findings. Here, people don't seem to even notice. Just this month, our church has been robbed twice. Someone took a hammer, smashed out one of our Sunday School windows, came in stole a lap top and money from the petty cash drawer in the office. They obviously didn't get enough the first time, so they came back for more the second time. I realize that we are suppose to always be like Jesus. We should love our neighbor as ourselves, be kind one to another etc....... I am trying really hard!!!! However, it is sometimes pretty difficult when some idiot steals from the church. I mean how low down would you have to be? Our church is a very giving bunch and would most likely give anyone anything they needed. Just ask, don't take!!! I know we all have sinned and fallen short of God's Glory and that none of us deserve His mercy. I just have to remember this when I am thinking of ways to get revenge like hiding in that hallway they seem to keep coming in and surprise them with a lead pipe and some buck shot. I pray that my son will be able to know the same peace and feeling of safety I knew as a child. I love the song Broken World by Across the Sky (it's my 3rd song on the playlist). I think it sums up the only hope we have. Keep us in your prayers!

4 comments:

Shonna said...

Sounds like a plan...can I help you?!?! Did y'all do the PowerLab VBS? "Come to Jesus" was a song on that CD and I was just wondering since you had it downloaded.

jeff and rebecca said...

Yes Shonna, just bring your sleeping bag and your own weapon! And no, we haven't done our VBS yet, we are doing Outrigger Island. I love that song. I LOVE all of the songs on my playlist that's why I never change them.

Beth said...

Somehow I can see you bent down with your weapon just waiting for somebody to break in! I would love to be a fly on the wall when it happens! I know of a perfect little quite, safe town y'all could live in!

rubysmommy2002 said...

Rebecca,

I'm sorry to hear about the troubles you all are having with the break-ins..how awful! I can totally envision you staking-out waiting for the criminals! That reminds me of something that the two of us might have come up with in our younger days! I love your blog! I also can't believe how much of a perfect combination Will is of both you and Jeff..he's such a handsome young man! I can't wait to catch up with you very, very soon! I miss you so much! Love, Julie