Two Years but Still Spreading Smiles

By: April Sylvester
It has been two whole years. In that time, Dad has successfully moved houses, I have been figuring out being an adult for a year, Anna is a pro at college by now, and Audrey and Adam are knee deep in high school life. But even through all the changes two years brings with it, mom is still a part of us (literally and figuratively). And I would like to share a short story about mom that shows that loving spirit that I so very much want to emulate. So here we go:

We were staring at the array of pictures splayed across the blue Compassion International table cloth in front of us as an eagerly jittery volunteer floated behind like a Christian social-justice Cheshire cat. It was only a couple of months until I was to embark on my first trip to Africa with the youth team from Perimeter Church’s Global Outreach, and my mom and I had walked up to the nonprofit's table in our church’s lobby with the intention of committing to $30 per month to support a needy child in Tanzania. My mom picked up one photo: it was a girl about 8 years old, in a puffy pink dress, with a beaming smile that lit up her round face. Then she picked up another photo: a boy of about the same age with dirty slacks, arms pinned to his side, and a huge scowl on his face.  Mom looked from one card to another and then asked the Cheshire cat if we could take both home to pray over the decision. The volunteer just smiled.

Back home at our kitchen table, mom laid down both pictures and asked me which child I thought we should support. I wanted the girl. She was cute and smiling. I would want that kind of girl as my penpal. But mom picked up the boy, looked at his face and said, “He doesn’t look very happy." "Exactly," I thought. "I think he needs it more. Let’s give him something to smile about.” Even though that seemed like the most illogical decision to my shallow preteen brain, I am now floored by my mom’s compassion. She did not choose the shiny, fun, option, but the option that Christ would have chosen--one of extending care and relationship to the most unlikely of the world. 

A few months later I did get to visit Charles and, though it took a day, lots of coaxing, and a spontaneous soccer match, he did show us a glimpse of his bright and beautiful smile. That was all thanks to mom!

Happy Birthday Carol!

I really looked forward to one tradition that Carol created for birthdays in our house.  On someone's birthday, Carol would go through our family photos and pull one out of the birthday boy or girl and put it in a frame on the kitchen table.  When each of us came down for the morning devotion, a big 8.5x11 shot of the birthday kid was on display for all of us to see.  The picture was some really cute shot that would spark laughter and stories.  Afterward we would thank God that He brought the birthday boy/girl into our family.  Carol even did this for me.  But we never did it for Carol.  First, I was never up as early as Carol.  But, second, we didn't have any photos of Carol when she was young.  The last time I was at her parent's house, I dug out the some of their old slides and had them converted.  So, here's looking at you kid!

Carol was born in New York City.  She hated cold weather for the 25 years I knew her.   This was the only shot I saw of her in the snow, obviously not too excited about it.  I am sure she was delighted with their move to Birmingham!  

Thank you God for bringing this girl into this world for all of us to enjoy!