DOWN HOME:
Jan. 3 will be marked by stars & happy faces
___Life's grace and symmetry sometimes surpass imagination.
___For example, consider the long-awaited arrival of Mackenzie and Tanner Knox.
___Valorie and Martin's twin babies popped into this wide and wonderful world--bright-eyed and squealing--last Wednesday, Jan. 3, 2001.
___We expected them sooner. In fact, we even picked out a couple of dates.
___Christmas would've been great. In addition to being the day we celebrate the birth of our Lord Jesus, it's also the birthday of their Grandmommie-- Margaret Moore Knox, Martin's mother, and mine. Throughout Christmas day, we hoped for Christmas babies.
___Then we certainly didn't think they'd hold out until New Year's day. When Valorie visited the doctor Dec. 19, he predicted they'd be born within 10 days.
___So, when the Knox side of their family gathered on Dec. 30, we teased Martin about putting Valorie on a trampoline. The weather was cold outside, but we figured she could bounce those little Tax Deductions right into his waiting arms before the IRS agent could draw a line to the end of another tax year.
___But Mackenzie and Tanner held on.
___And despite our hope for twin Christmas presents and the logical advantage of 2000 tax deductions, we were grateful for every healthy day of their waiting.
___Their biggest sister, 8-year-old Shelby, arrived three months premature. We thanked the Lord Mackenzie and Tanner could stay inside their mom long enough to grow big and strong.
___Their middle sister, 4-year-old Jamie, showed up a week overdue. However any of us felt about an extended time of development for the twins, nobody wished Valorie would have to carry them a week past their due date, Jan. 15. Try carrying a 14-pound bowling ball strapped to your belly, and you'll understand.
___But in the fullness of God's time, Mackenzie and Tanner decided to make their grand appearance.
___Valorie called Martin, who ran home, picked her up and called family on the way to the hospital in Fort Worth. Grandparents Holly and Wilma Bird headed over from McKinney as Marvin and Margaret Knox drove down from Oklahoma. Jan. 3 would be the big day.
___As we stood in Valorie's room, cuddling the babies and talking about how much they looked like their big sisters, Mother asked, "Do you know what day this is?" giving voice to a thought that had been in my mind all afternoon and evening.
___Jan. 3--14 years to the day after Mackenzie and Tanner's Popo, their great-grandfather Leonard Moore, died. A day marked by sadness suddenly had been redeemed with gladness. The Lord and Mackenzie and Tanner knew about timing.
___And I can hear Popo laughing now.
_
The Baptist Standard
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