Imagine a mother saving seventy five cents from the grocery money to hire a taxi to ride to town -back in the forties.
So she tried to prepare us three children, ages six to four, for this special afternoon. It was exciting for us wigglesome children to pack that back seat of the big taxi for our first ride. We behaved fairly well as we peered through the raindrops splashing on the windows until we saw the large theater where we were headed. Mother paid the the cab driver and praised us as we hopped out-hoping that this good behavior continued.
It was Good Friday and stores and businesses were closed from one till three to celebrate a Union Good Friday Service in our little German community in Ohio.
As much as possible, she tried to encourage us to sit quietly for the next few hours. Now that was a big challenge for anyone no matter how beautiful the music. And the speakers weren't really good storytellers either to hold interest for long.
I had just learned to read, so I was glad that the usher offered me a program of my own. I was so proud as I could read the title on the program's cover, THE LAST WORDS FROM THE CROSS.
"What could that mean?" I pondered. I was curious.
The old theater filled up quickly and the lights on the high ceiling dimmed.Soon my brother settled and my sister's head napped.
Being inquisitive, I always liked words. I tucked my feet under my seat so I could sit tall and hear every word.I didn't understand all of what I heard that day, but I recall some words like
* forgive
* love
* forsaken
* wound
* finished
Words, some big, some small, but put together, they told the story how God had the perfect plan of salvation for the world. Those few words I still hear are life-changing.
"Lord, help me to remember my words have power. Help me use them only
to heal,
to help,
and encourage."
Wow, what a Friday to remember!
