Elizabeth is a childhood friend of mine. I met her at church when I was 14. There was a group of us, Elizabeth, Jess, Darlene, and myself who all just connected. Many weekends would be at each other’s house, the mall, or on youth group activities. The best thing was our families knew each other from church. There was a trust between both the friends and our respective parents, as there should be. Quite honestly this was a solid set of girlfriends. I think the only thing we ever did wrong just involved me and Jess going to a concert and then meeting some random guys-but that’s a whole other blog.

Life took all of us in separate directions. We all became young mothers. Most of us married and then divorced. Elizabeth and I remarried. Jess is still single and Darlene has been happily married to her high school sweetheart. To this day we remain in contact with the wonders of social media.

…

I was kinda-sorta dating a church guy. We were young, so there was really no “going out.” We would hang out at Church or the Prayer Room and see each other on youth group activities. He was a very nice guy and had I not met the dipshit sperm donor of my oldest son, I am sure our story would have continued for a bit longer. We went to Christian prom together, however, before Prom, our dates were going to cook us dinner at Elizabeth’s house. (We were young and had no money!)

Elizabeth’s father, Bobby, or as us girls called him “Mr. Bremmer” gave all of our dates the third degree. He was polite yet firm. He made them feel welcomed yet let them know we are expected back at Elizabeth’s house at 10:00. He was hard, but always fair.

Shortly after Christian Prom, Elizabeth’s parents had a 4th of July party at their house. The guest would be residents from the local nursing home. Elizabeth’s dad had asked Darlene and I if we would sing a Christian song to “entertain the crowd.” I had never sung before and we would quickly find out that I kinda sucked at it.

Many nights Darlene and I would stay up late, practicing “Born in Zion” by Wayne Watson. Definitely not my first song of choice, however, I had to keep in mind my “audience.” The day of the party came, and Elizabeth’s parents had a sound system set up. Both Darlene and I were nervous. We had decided that she would take the first verse I would take the second and we would do the chorus together.

There we are, two young girls up there in their backyard. People are cooking, lots of wheelchairs, lots of laughs. Everyone was just, good. Mingling, enjoying the 4th. As soon as Darlene and I started singing, the crowd, the nursing home crowd, started yelling “WE CAN’T HEAR YOU! SING LOUDER!” Yeah, this was a hardcore crowd.

Darlene and I rushed through the song. As soon as it was over we ran inside, trying to hide from what I now know to be our own insecurities.

Elizabeth and her dad came in to find Darlene and me.

“You girls did great!”
“Eh, don’t listen to them, half of them can’t hear anyway!”
“I am proud of you!”

He gave Darlene and I a hug and ordered us to eat some grub!

And, that we did.

Tonight, I found out Elizabeth lost her dad. As I am writing this post, Elizabeth is making memorial arrangements for her father. There are no words.

Tonight, I am taken back to that hot and humid 4th of July in Norfolk, Va.

If I listen closely, I can hear Darlene and I singing “Born in Zion” and the lyrics, well, the lyrics have never been more fitting.

Very few are born to riches, very few
Very few of cherished wishes ever come true
But that won’t matter much at all
On the day your name is called
When this earthbound life is through
And your Father says of you

This one was born in Zion
Make no mistake, this one is Mine
This one was born in Zion
This one will never, this one will never
This one will never die

Very few are ever famous, very few
Very few will ever live the dream that they choose
But that won’t matter much at all
On the day your name is called
When this earthbound life is through
And your Father says of you

This one was born in Zion
Make no mistake, this one is Mine
This one was born in Zion
This one will never, this one will never
This one will never die

And every dream left unfulfilled
And every worthy goal
Is just a shadow of the joy that waits
Forever to unfold

This one was born in Zion
Make no mistake, this one is Mine
This one was born in Zion
This one will never, oh, this one will never
This one will never die