I Will Never Forget You

She was a foreign exchange student at a local Christian school for the past year. Always, she had a smile on her face and greeted everyone at Church with kindness and respect.

Over time we developed a special friendship and she asked if she could sit with us in Church. We said we would love to sit with her and every week after that, she would seek us out, share our pew, and sing along with us. What joy that was. One day I asked her if I could be her American grandmother. "Yes! Yes, you can," she said with a smile.

When she went back to her country nearly two months ago, the parting was bittersweet. She was lonely for her friends and family and so she could hardly wait to be home. Likewise, we were happy for her. But leaving her host family, her new friends, and the Church was a tough one for Pin. "I hope I can see you again," she said to me. Smiles and hugs and tears were exchanged with many friends at Church that last Sunday that she was with us.

In my Bible is a cherished card from her. Part of the handwritten message was, "I will never forget you, my American grandmother." I will never forget her, either! I sincerely hope and pray that I will see her again someday, too. Maybe we will see her again on this earth, or it may be in Heaven. In the meantime, we say "hi" online and exchange some photos. What fun to keep in touch so easily with our little friend from the other side of the world!

This morning I was thinking of "Pin" and missing her. While thinking of the people who touch our lives, God reminded me of a verse from the Book of Revelation:

"And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation. . ."

What a wonderful thing to think of GOD calling people from all over the world to Himself. How amazing to think of that PERFECT day when people from all of history and from every part of the earth will be together and bow our knees to our Creator and Redeemer, confessing Him as LORD!

Pin, Family, Friends: I hope to see all of you there! There is ONE way, according to Jesus, Who said,  ". . . nobody comes to the Father, except by Me." Trust Him!