embarrassed because she not been to Sunday School since her father died. “Well — yes, Marlene, I’d be glad to have you go with me, and I am sure that Lincoln would love to have Harvey go with him, too. Wouldn’t you, Lincoln?” “Why, ah, o f course,” Lincoln replied as he caught a reassuring nod from his mother. “By the way, Mr. and Mrs. Lennox, would you like to go to church with me tomorrow?” has tily asked Mrs. Van Lunn. “Well, this is wonderful,” re plied Mrs. Lennox. “We were wondering where a church was. In fact, we had asked the Lord to help us.” When Sunday evening came, and the Van Lunns were about to retire, it was a very different mother who said to her children, ‘This has been the most enjoyable Sunday we have had since father passed away; it was all so won derful for us all to go to church together again. It seems that the Lord sent our new neighbors all the way from the Texas Panhan dle to Tulsa to get us back to Himself. And did you hear what Mr. Lennox said about moving from our neighborhood?” “ Do you mean about their not moving from our neighborhood, Mother?” asked Donna. “ Sure, that’s what mother means!” exc la imed Lincoln. “ Boy! what a change from yes terday afternoon.” “ All right, you tease,” laughed Mrs. Van Lunn. “ I admit that my first impressions were terribly wrong. By the way, starting to morrow we shall do as Daddy always did, and we shall say grace at every meal and we’ll have family devotions at night.” “ Just like when Daddy was here,” Donna said wistfully. “ Oh, you wonderful Texans, what a wonderful miracle you have brought into our home.” They all laughed, but it was not the mocking laugh o f the day before, but a joyful laugh that had in it a sound of praise to God.
As Mrs. Van Lunn visited with her new neighbors, she, too, soon realized that her first im pressions had been wrong. True, the Lennox ranch life, over seven ty miles from town, had made them indifferent to the latest fashions in clothes, furniture, and cars. But the more they vis ited, the more Mrs. Van Lunn realized that her new neighbors had a mysterious something that she herself lacked. Soon the young people joined the group for refreshments. Sud denly Mrs. Van Lunn realized SEARCH THE SCRIPTURES By searching through God's Word, you will be able to fill in the blank spaces below. 1. "And, behold, there was a man named ...................., a counselor; and he was a ........................... man, and a ............................. " (Luke 23:50). 2. "This man went unto ............., and begged the body of Jesus" (Luke 23:52). 3. "And there came also ............., which at the first came to Jesus by night" (John 19:39). 4. "Now when Jesus was risen early the .................... day of the week, he appeared first to ............................... " (Mark 16:9). 5. "Then cometh ............................. following him, and went into the ...... ...................., and seeth the ................ ........................... lie" (John 20:6). 6. "Then were the disciples ........ ...................., when they saw the Lord" (John 20:20). what that “mysterious some thing” was. Before any food was eaten, Mr. Lennox said, “ Let us return thanks for this food.” All heads were bowed in quiet rever ence as Mr. Lennox prayed, “ Fa ther, we thank Thee for this fel lowship with our neighbors this evening. We are grateful to Thee for all Thy blessings. For these refreshments we return thanks. Amen.” While they were eating, Marlene said, “Donna, I feel as if I had known you for years. This evening has been so much fun. Could I go to Sunday School with you tomorrow?” Donna was
Panhandle, oil was discovered on their property, and they sold the ranch to a large oil company. They thought this house was in the suburbs with a couple of acres of land around it. They feel all cramped up. I reckon they won’t stay long. But I wish that they would stay — they are so differ ent.” Donna finally had to stop for breath. “Donna, I’m surprised at you!” exclaimed the indignant mother. “What do you mean by saying that you want such uncouth folks to live in our district?” “Mother, just because they ar rived ‘ranch-style’ doesn’t make them uncouth. I thought they were, too, judging from their furniture. But I guess that Lin coln was right. Furniture doesn’t make the neighbors. Come and see!” Reluctantly, Mrs. Van Lunn consented. She put on her best dress, fixed her hair, and pow dered her face. “ I must show these people the class o f folk that they have moved among. I hope that you are right about their not liking this place and that they will soon move away. Come, Donna, let’s get this ordeal over.” They had barely rung the bell when the door flew open and they were greeted by the Lennox girl, Marlene. “Oh, I’m so glad you came, Mrs. Van Lunn. We have enjoyed having Donna and Lin coln come to see us. We are so happy to have such friendly neighbors. We felt strange mov ing into a city house for the first time, especially when it was not what we expected.” Mrs. Van Lunn’s formal ap proach was suddenly forgotten. Marlene’s open and genuine friendliness made all superficial ity seem cheap. Walking into the living room, Mrs. Van Lunn was greeted by Mr. and Mrs. Lennox with outstretched hands. Looking into the dining room, she saw Lincoln and the Lennox boy busily working on a large model airplane.
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AUGUST, 1966
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