The 1st Strand Of The Tapestry

Six pre-pubescent girls with high foreheads and big teeth are making their beds in Grandma's living room. Three or four will share the fold-out couch, another will use the ottoman that transforms into a single, and another will lay herself down on a camping cot. But sleep will not come for many hours, and not before much giggling and pillow fighting, and only after many tense moments waiting for the stern warning to, "Be quiet!" that we so richly deserve, but rarely comes.

My cousins and my sister and I were from two very different worlds, but somehow we managed to have such fun together during our infrequent visits to Grandpa's. They were raised in the nurture and admonition of the Lord, while we unashamedly sought our validation in the world system; they went to church and memorized scripture while we spent weekends primping and practicing the bar scene at the local roller rink; they homeschooled and we thought they were freaks.

During one of our slumber parties, one of my cousins cornered my little sister and scared her half to death with the true, if not so eloquently-stated Gospel that cautioned her that she was headed for hell if she didn't receive the Savior. So...maybe 10-year olds ought not be preaching the Gospel -- with words, at least. After all, we don't hear Jesus say anything until He's 12! And He was perfect! Maybe there is a lesson in that. But, I digress...

Unfortunately, that incident made it right to my father and he was a little more than angry. I've never seen my dad throw a fit -- ever -- but I know that his wrath is swift and sure, nonetheless. As a family, we didn't see my cousins again until my Grandfather's 80th birthday celebration almost 20 years later.

But I did see them sooner than that. The year before I became pregnant for the first time, one of the major airlines ran a 1-day-turn-around cheap fare over the 4th of July, so I traveled alone from my city to their's. I was curious, the visit was quick, and I was hooked. That Thanksgiving, I would send a letter to be read to the group of 5 aunts and uncles, one grandparent, 12 cousins and countless 2nds, sharing the news of our baby on the way. They rejoiced as if I was the first woman in history to make such an announcement. Two Resurrection Sundays later, Husband, 10-month-old Fifi and I would return for a full weekend. These folks were welcoming and received us with grand gatherings of family (so much family!) and food. They seemed genuinely interested in us.

I never felt any judgment from them, though I knew that their belief system told them that I was going to hell. They just loved me. One of my cousins gave me a queen-sized, hand-made quilt. No one ever gave me something that was so invested with themselves before, and I was moved. We began to keep in touch by this new, convenient medium called e-mail.

Their story in the moment was quite remarkable, though in my unregenerate state I didn't consider it so -- I thought they were remarkably ignorant, galactically stupid and maybe even a bit crazy. Why? Because they were communicating news to me of the impending "condemned" status of the trailer park in which at least 4 of them lived with their spouses and children. One cousin had a baby on the way -- maybe her 3rd or 4th -- I don't remember. They were all going to lose their trailers, or have to sell them cheap, and get off the land -- fast! They were young and just starting out; they had no where to go. I laugh now when I remember sharing their e-mails with Husband. I was incredulous over how bold they were in their witness that the Lord knew, and would provide for them. They said they weren't worried. I thought they had better get worried in a hurry! I was blind, and I was wrong.

This is but one prominent strand the Lord used to weave together the circumstances of my "quickening" 9 years ago. The 2nd strand of God's salvations tapestry for me is here.