Acceptance…

It was hard to get back to Celebrate Recovery on Friday nights. In the past, every time I went to CR, John would meet me at the door, and he would say, “I’ve saved you a seat right in the front row.” Friends would joke as they saw me approaching, and say, “Hey, John, where do you think Cheryl should sit?”

So, now I sit in the back.

One night I was looking around the room and an older gentleman caught my eye. He was very conservatively dressed in a v-neck sweater, shirt and khaki pants. He was looking around as if he were expecting someone to show up. I kept thinking, I hope he’s not disappointed if that person doesn’t come tonight.

As a young man started walking down the aisle, I was enjoying the contrast. He had on a baseball cap, tattoos running down one arm, a baggy shirt and baggy pants with a chain going from his back pocket to his front belt loop.

The young man tapped the older gentleman on the shoulder. Both of them started grinning from ear to ear and embracedin a big hug. They sat down by each other, put their heads together and talked and laughed for a few minutes before the worship started.

Yes, sometimes it’s hard to sit at Celebrate Recovery now in a new row with such pain. But I just witnessed a great example of acceptance, joy and the love of Christ.

And the program hadn’t even started yet.