Wednesday, March 5, 2008

 

How Will They Know Series

 

Psalm 117:2 “…Praise the Lord.”

 

Rizzo is in Seminary

 

When Averette and I were expecting our first child we went to see “The Sound of Music” at a local high school.  I remember as we walked to our automobile saying, “I hope one of our daughters is Maria in “The Sound of Music.”    I could see in my heart a demurred version of Averette playing that beautiful nun and singing “The hills are alive with the sound of music.”   

 

When Caroline was a senior at Daphne High School she played a murderess in her senior play who killed people and was killed in the end on stage.   Christina was in “Grease”.   Unfortunately, she was not Sandy but Rizzo.   The night of the play I sank lower and lower in the seat as she sang “There are worse things I could do.”    I watched her smoke and drink on the stage and almost died of embarrassment.    Anna Camille is playing “Adieu Annie” in “Oklahoma.”   Her solo is “I’m Just a Girl Who Can’t Say No.” 

 

I asked Averette the other day if she remembered all those years ago my hoping for Maria in “The Sound of Music.”  She smiled whimsically at me and said, “Well darling, things don’t always turn out as you expect them.”

 

In so many ways I am amazed at how my life did turn out.   It is true the girls have played parts of a murderess, a bad girl, and a not-too-bright girl from Oklahoma.   Fortunately, they just played the part and did not live the life of any of those characters.   The thing that happened and mattered the most is that God has always been a part of their life.  Psalm 117 says, “Praise the Lord…Great is His love toward us and the faithfulness of the Lord endures forever.”  

 

In my life and in theirs I can trace God’s hand.  I hope for my girls that He will be with them in their bad days.  He will carry their soul when they become weak in the days of temptation.  He will lead them away from the paths that will destroy.  I know just as He always has, God will bless them in the real decisions that they must make.   

 

Yes, I expected Maria and got Rizzo, however, the murderess actually helps retarded citizens find jobs.   Rizzo, who sang “There are worse things I could do, I could go with a boy or two even though the neighborhood thinks I’m trashy and no good, I suppose it could be true”  is in seminary.  Anna Camille, “The Girl who can’t say no” bakes cookies every Saturday night for church on Sunday.  I believe where it really matters I did get “The Sound of Music” after all.  

 

Prayer:

Dear God, help me to look deep into my hopes and dreams to see the truth.  Amen.