It all started along time ago…Adam was alone….everyone had a mate, the bears…the lions…why even the wart-hogs and skunks had a wife for goodness sake! But not Adam. From the passage it appears that Adam really did not take too much thought to it, but God did, and aren’t we thankful!
God designed us in such a way that we need others to support us to help us along,
“And Jehovah God said, It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him a help meet for him.” Gen. 2:18
And so God made Adam take a nap…bummer thought that was only for two year olds!! Lol!Anyways, and He made Eve out of Adam’s rib and that was the first marriage! And a billion marriages later, God being the best matchmaker, had a match in mind…and on a little Bible college campus in
What dreams they must have had! What plans! They met and dated, worked at a camp together, and then he popped the big question, the one that most every young lady longs to hear. And on the 14th of June, they were married at her home church. Little did they know what lay ahead for them!
It has not been a bed of roses, but they have always made the best of it! They struggled, they ran hard, they served, they lead those around them, they have strived for Christ, and persevered!
They have served in three different churches, moved more than five times! And probably the best part, they had seven children!
Now I am not here to claim that my parent’s marriage has been perfect! No one is perfect…so therefore we would all agree that no marriage…no family is perfect, so I am not going to say that "my Parent’s are perfect," or even that they "come as close to perfect as this side of heaven you can be." But I will say that they are perfect for me!!
God is so amazing in that He always knows what is the very best for us, even down to the minor details such as who should be our parents, and because Sherrill and Jeff Duffy are my parents they are therefore the BEST parents for me! None other would do, because those two very special people were the very people God picked to be my parents!
Therefore I can wish for none other!! So I wanted to begin this note by stating that my mother is not perfect, but that she is perfect for me, and neither would I say that my father is perfect, but he is perfect for me. And I praise God that He chose her for me and me for her!!
You see God had it all planned out before I was born! He knew EXACTLY what it would take to bring me to Himself! He knew that it would take me being raised by a certain Jeff and Sherrill, none other would do! It is so amazing for me to stand back and reflect on all the little details of my life and see the sovereignty of God! He is so amazing, so far above me! I am so insignificant... nothing to note... nothing for the very God of Heaven the very creator to even look on let alone smile on! And yet He stoops down and notices little and awfully sinful me! And He not only notices me but knows me better than I know myself!! I like David am compelled to say
"When I consider your heavens,
the work of your fingers,
the moon and the stars,
which you have set in place,
what is man that you are mindful of him,
the son of man that you care for him?" Psalm 8:3-4
Krista was my parents first child, and she was a perfect fit for them ( again God's sovereignty must be noted here:). She was so good, all they had to do when her sinful nature reared its ugly head was to give a stern look (just one) and she would start crying and stop whatever sinful action she was taking.
MY parents were just young pups then (in fact my dad was my age exactly!!! Hard to believe it!).
Anyway they were really young and my dad was still in college when Krista was born. So when I was born I can almost bet that they were expecting me to be just the same way as Krista! But boy were they wrong!! God must have a sense of humor, for He really through them a curve ball in giving them me!
Krista and I are as different as night and day! Where she was good and sweet, I was mischievous and a tyrant! It took a lot of force to get me to do what they easliy got Krista to do! So I can only imagine how hard it must have been for my parents! And yet I always remember them having great patience with me! Oh yes I tested their waters, I tried their wills, but somehow they always managed to keep those waters calm and peaceful, their wills above mine.
Then Joe came, their first and precious son. A real chip off the old block he was (still is). So much like dad it’s scary sometimes! And What patience they had with him as well. with his countless window breakings, and boyish antics of catching frogs and bugs and the like, and all the trouble we got into together. Those were good times huh Joe?
And to think that they thought they were to be the parents of only three!
But as Joseph left toddler age and went into a young child my mom yearned for yet another. I remember when she told us she was pregnant, we were elated! For by this time we were old enough to understand (I was only three when Joe was born, so I really did not remember it).
Her and dad called us into his office at Fellowship Baptist in Des, Moines where he was the associate pastor at the time. And she showed us the test, Krista always having been interested in babies knew exactly what those lines meant, I was confused as was Joe, but after some explanation the room filled with our screams of joy as we jumped up and down. Dad of course in his usual manner looked on with joy.
But that happiness was cut short, as we lost that precious babe. Long about December we had a visit to the doctor and no heart beat could be heard. Little Joshy had gotten the cord wrapped around his kneck and he passed away before we could see his beautiful face. But one thing we know he will never stray from his Lord for he is always at his side in heaven!
For awhile we took time to heal from that. We were all so excited and then had our hopes cut short. But God knew exactly what He was doing and He had perfect reasons as to calling Joshua home, and I would not have it any other way.
Mom got pregnant once again, this time we were excited yes, but there was that unsaid apprehension of if we would lose this one two. But God in His matchless grace granted to us Andrew. The precious miracle boy was a wonderful delight to us all, but especially Joe, for now he had a brother…no more the only boy!
The next two years were honestly some of the craziest years of our lives! Little did we know that when mom and dad said “four no more” that God would throw us a couple curve balls! Funny how we think we have things figured out then God says “Nuh-uh!”
Just fourteen months after little Drew was born, Caleb came into the world! And he was a mama’s boy from the start. Dad held him first and he cried and cried until he was in mama’s arms then all crying ceased, and to this day he is not ashamed to admit that mama still is really the only one who can calm him!
Then shortly after Caleb God surprised us again with the blessing of another little girl! Our precious Breanna was born! She has been full of life right from the start!
Boy were those some crazy years weren’t they mom and dad? Three small children… A new pastorate job and church to get used to…the countless diapers…bottles…tussles…sleepless nights! It truly was crazy! But somehow you corralled all us kids and kept your marriage together! Homeschooling us, cooking for us, providing for us! How you two kept it together, I do not know!So here’s to you mom and dad! Thankyou for reflecting Jesus Christ! Thankyou for faithfully rearing our heart towards Him! Thankyou for your faithfulness to each other…to God…to your children…to your church! Thankyou for showing God’s grace in your lives!
Thankyou for being the precious parents of:
Krista Michelle (Tee)
Bethany Renae (Boobopper)
Joseph Aaron (Pud)
Joshua (Heavenly child)
Andrew Levi ( Rubber Duck)
Caleb Scott (Drool Bucket/mama’s boy)
Breanna Kae (Pooka Butt/ nana)
WE ALL LOVE YOU and congratulate you!!
PS. Almost forgot your last two children Zoe Rose and Jackson, they love you too I suppose! J
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