Rejoice no matter what

Going down memory lane to Thursday, December, 9 1993, 17 years ago.

age 28
wife, stay at home mom, awana teacher, youth sunday school teacher, just started studying the Bible for the first time...Precepts Inductive Bible study, Philippians: Rejoice no matter what
3 children: Reagan age 7- 1st grade, Mrs Beeman, Brandon Elementary, Bryan age 4, Grace 8 months.
Michael was a car salesman at Gray Daniels Ford, Brandon, MS
members of Park Place Baptist Church, Brandon/Pearl
just moved to Brandon and rented a home for $500 on hwy 468, near brenmar st, no pets allowed
2 cars
My sister, Vidonia and her family were IMB missionaries in Argentina and had just returned for STAS (Furlough)

A lot of my family (Donia's family, Ginger's family, Keith and his fiance and Mama) came over to our "new/rental" house in Brandon. We wanted to celebrate and give them all a Christmas gift to the chinese restaurant "Shanghi" our treat (good month in car sales) and listen to Christmas music and decorate our tree.

Before we left for the restaurant, Keith switched Grace's shoes around, to tease me and make people think I couldnt even dress a little girl right after 2 boys... haha

After Chinese buffet, the guys went to the boy scout tree farm and bought a really pretty real tree (keith and steve argued over which one, keith won, as usual, Michael didnt care hahaha)

We had such a wonderful night decorating the tree, listening to Alabama Christmas, setting out the beautiful porcelan nativity set my mother gave each of her children (from Avon) Each year they came out with a different piece. She collected 6 complete sets for each of her children. As each piece was placed, the birth of Jesus was read from the Bible. Reagan had just given his life to Christ in July that year, so it was his first Christmas as a believer. He had just learned all the words to Away in a Manger. He was especially sensitive to the Lord and very excited about his new faith, and still at the age that he didnt care what people thought, he praised Jesus wherever he was. As baby Jesus was placed, he knelt on his knees, folded his hands in prayer and bowed his head, and began singing Away in a Manger, as if it was scripted. Of course we all joined in and sang with him. As we were singing, my eyes met Keiths and he had the biggest tears you ever saw, and so did I. It was a special moment frozen in time and in my mind for eternity.

Afterward, Keith made coffee and served everyone, and we sat around and talked and laughed. We even created a tv show idea "Coffee with Ginger" (this was before reality tv, looking back now it would certainly have been a hit). Keith decorated Grace in her stroller with lights and tensil. He also announced his and his fiance's engagement/wedding date for February 14, 1994, that day would never come for him. That night, he asked mama if he could have his nativity set since they were getting married and she agreed. (she told him he couldnt have it till he settled down, or got married and had a home to put it in. It was the last night me and my family would see Keith. He was a great brother, an encourager, a protector, a loyal friend, an amazing athlete: mvp football player senior year, 2nd place state hurdles, scholarship at JCJC football, (most important to my boys, he could jump a whole truck) a servant, hot tempered :), defender of the weak, and loved his family more than anything. I was blessed to have him as an older brother.

It was a magical night, even before I knew it would be my last with Keith.

One week later, December 16, 17 years ago today, a thursday. Vidonia came and shared with our WMU at Park Place, then we went for ice coffee at the mall. Then I did all our Christmas shopping. Returned home with all the loot and was sitting in the floor dividing and organizing (making sure everyone had the same amount of gifts from us and from Santa. I remember the news as playing on the tv in the background and there had been a murder in Brandon in Robin Hood subdivision. I remember saying a silent prayer for the family of the one killed and thinking how sad so close to Christmas. Moments later I would receive the worst phone call of my life from my sister. After she told me that Keith had been killed, I dropped the phone and fainted. The next thing I remember was throwing all the gifts into the closet and going to meet my sister at the brandon courthouse to drive down to mama and daddy's to give them the news in person. The chief of police followed in their car for our safety. We literally prayed out loud together as we drove the 40 minutes. How do wake your parents in the middle of the night to tell them their son's life has been senselessly taken?

The details of how Keith's life was taken by another human being is much too personal and painful to write about. We heard that Keith's murderer lived his last days in Parchman before he died of natural causes in 2005. What a wasted life. We heard a few years later, that the guy who witnessed and testified gave his life to Christ, what a redeemed life.

Through it all, God is faithful, He is sovereign, and He will carry us through anything this life brings. ANYTHING. He will give joy no matter what our circumstances. We can rejoice no matter what. Life is precious, dear and it truly is a Wonderful Life. I pray that you know that whatever loss you (whoever you is) are going through this year, or whatever you might face in your life, He is enough, for this we have Jesus, He will carry you, every day is a new day, His mercies are new every morning. He will give you enough light for the step you are on. I pray that you will trust and praise God no matter what. Don't waste your life. Make it count for Jesus.