Pine and Mae met two decades ago when they were both going through tough times. It was an unlikely romance: Pine is almost 20 years older than Mae. Pine is European American, Mae is African American. His kids were out of the nest, hers were still in. It was an unlikely romance, but of such things are love and marriage made, and so they married.
Together they are a beautiful couple. Mae is quiet, Pine is humble, and they have raised four dozen children. What?!? Yes. After their own children were grown, Pine and Mae opened their home to foster children who need them desperately.
For 20 years, Pine and Mae have been opening the door—no smile in the world is bigger than Pine’s when social services calls. No heart is bigger than Mae’s when she opens the door to welcome another little one in. Now theirs is a bold act to follow.
Today we observe Holy Cross Day. This message was adapted from “Act Boldly with Gentleness” written by Sue Gamelin that first appeared in the April 2006 issue of Lutheran Woman Today (now Gather) magazine.
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