Written by Tina Kramer
I bet you thought I was a northern-born gal. Surprise! I was born in Portsmouth, Virginia, near the Chesapeake Bay. My parents, Ken and Irene Spafard, were part of the 700 Club ministry when it was located in Portsmouth. In fact, our family lived in a houseboat docked right beside the old CBN building. It has been many years since I had visited my southern roots, and lately I have felt a longing to go back home.
Our first stop was the Forest Lawn Cemetery in Norfolk. Sean and I walked around the tombstones, looking for my father’s grave. Thankfully, God helped us find it. Sean graciously held an umbrella over me while I wept and prayed. My Dad and I had such a short time together on this earth, but we will share eternity together in heaven.
The next day we had lunch with Orlen Stauffer and Jon Powers, two men who had worked with my father at CBN. It was a joy to meet both of these godly men and hear them share memories about my father. Ironically, Orlen is my mother’s first cousin and grew up in Lancaster County, PA. What a delight to reconnect with Orlen and meet his family.
Orlen was kind enough to show us many landmarks of my past. We saw the old CBN building and searched for the location of my home. My family had moved from the houseboat to a trailer near Suffolk. Dad was a caretaker of the property where Pat Robertson lived. Sadly, the property is fenced off, but I could see the remains of the lane that led to our home.
Jon Powers and my father did carpentry work together at CBN. When CBN moved from Portsmouth to Virginia Beach, Jon transported the cross my father had made to the new prayer chapel.
In the evening we zoomed over to Virginia Beach to visit with my stepbrother and his family. We talked about our adventures growing up together and enjoyed some good ol’ southern hospitality.
What a blessing to meet people who remember my father and to hear their memories about him! Thank you, God, for bringing healing to my soul through this journey to my southern roots.
What about your story? Have you paused from the hectic pace of your present to remember the good parts of your past? Even if your past is filled with pain, there are good memories to be found. Maybe it’s time to get out that old photo album and share your story.
“Let the redeemed of the Lord tell their story” (NIV Psalm 107:2).
Prayer
Thank you, Lord, for good memories. Thank you for my family in the south. What a joy to roam around my childhood home and hear good stories about my family.
I pray for the person reading this blog that you would help them to remember some good memories today. Remind them of your faithfulness in their lives. Show them how you were with them even during the painful events. Bring healing to the wounds of the past. Fill their hearts with joyful songs about your love.
In Jesus’ Name,
Amen
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