By ALLEN FARLEY / Guest Columnist

On Sunday, Feb. 8, Muriel and I celebrated our 40th Wedding Anniversary. As we gathered after church for lunch with our three daughters, their husbands and nine of our 11 grandchildren, I suddenly found myself overcome with pride, humility and fear. (There they were, a house filled with the blessings God has entrusted to me). Through the pride and humility I found myself fearfully pondering the many challenges my family will have facing them in this world of ever-increasing sin and violence.
My Christian Bible tells us that, while Jesus was meeting with his original 12 disciples for what would be their last evening meal together, he began to literally wash the feet of his disciples. As Simon Peter first refused, Jesus explained:
John 13:7 “You do not realize now what I am doing, but later you will understand.”
You know, God gave Muriel and I a few hours to spend with our future. He also gave me the privilege to pray over our future before we ate our meal. (I realized I had been given a special moment I could not afford to waste). I used that brief time to let my children and grandchildren hear me have a person conversation with Jesus.
As a believer in Jesus Christ, I pray I never miss an opportunity to reassure the younger ones standing around me that I fully understand the importance God places in our unashamed public examples of love, faith, humility and forgiveness.
After our meal I took a few minutes to have some personal worship time sitting on the front porch with my harmonica playing a verse of “Farther Along We’ll Understand Why.”

2 Timothy 2:14 states Keep reminding God’s people of these things. Warn them before God against quarreling about words; it is of no value, and only ruins those who listen.

God Bless America!!!

Allen Farley represents Jefferson and Shelby Counties in Alabama’s House District 15. He can be contacted at allenfarley@bellsouth.net, or (205)-960-7526.