Unexpected Blessings -- Worship in Chicago

The past weeks have been packed with family times filled with laughter and the labor of love and deep conversations and goodnight prayers and real life and the expected stressors related to the amazing celebration of our daughter, Danelle’s wedding.  Overriding and resonating through all of it was God’s incredible grace and presence.  It is difficult to process or condense into words these past weeks, but I would like to share some of the unexpected blessings. 



Danelle and Nate's wedding procession -- Jordan escorts his bride of less than one year ago.  Photo from Jean Smith

I arrived two weeks ahead of Phil to Chicago to spend the weekend with our son Jordan and his wife Violeta who have been married less than one year.  Jordan was the worship leader and lead guitarist at their church that Sunday.  The other vocalist could not come, so he had asked Violeta to sing.  This would be the first time for her.  Together they asked if I would also sing with them.  While it is true that I love to worship, I have had no experience being up front as part of a worship team.   My first reaction was, “That’s just weird.  I mean no one knows me.  And I was looking forward to enjoying worship (from the pew) with you leading.”  My response was shot down quickly by Violeta who reminded me that if it was the other way around, Phil and I would expect them to jump into helping out and doing ministry with us.  True. 

"Doing" worship meant being at the church at 7:00 AM for practice, using headphones, and joining with a cello, violin, two drummers, and keyboard.  Two of the songs were in Spanish.  Jordan loved having his bride and mom beside him in worship.  And did we worship!  It was a taste of heaven’s joy.