By this we know love, that he laid down his life for us, and we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers. (1 John 3:16 ESV)
This fellow is Bob Horning. The little girl belongs to Kempton and Caryn Turner. Bob and Mary were taking care of the Turner children on Saturday.
It does not appear to be a duty for either Bob or Carysse, does it! Yet Bob is fully attending to his duties as protector and caretaker. Carysse was fully attending to her duties of being cared for!
Bob and Mary’s oldest child, Krista, was born with many complications due to her disabilities. Kempton and Caryn’s oldest child, Christian, was born prematurely and also lives with many complications from his disabilities. So it is safe to say that disability brought these families together.
And then Jesus knit together their hearts.
Most of the parents I know (including me) who unexpectedly entered this life of disability never imagined that this life could also include the joys of affection and friendship – particularly when those joys come because of disability, not in spite of it. Yet the experience of deep sorrow also opens the way for hearts to connect in unusual, joy-filled ways.
And the rest of us get to see a glimpse in a little girl happily attending church with two people who love her very much while her parents are away.
God is always doing 10,000 more things than we can begin to see or imagine, for his glory and for our good.
Priceless! We praise the Lord for the sacrificial service of the Horning
Family towards us. We can never repay them for all the many times they have
blessed our family. God is sure keeping a record & what a lengthy list that
must be!
And the King will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of
the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.’ Matthew 25:40