What do you say?

You walk into a roomful of people you half-expected to be there. But not really.

And yet, there they are.

Then it dawns on you - they're here for you. All of them. On a busy Friday night. They could all have been someplace else. But no. They were all there. And they've been there, waiting.

For you.

Then, when you finally get settled in, they start speaking. About you. About how you've been this and that and that and this. To them.

Then they start thanking you. They start thanking God for you. For your life. For who you are and what you've done.

I used to watch stuff like this on TV. "Tributes", they called it. "Roasts", even. Usually some really special person would be the subject of it. The butt of the jokes told therein. The reason for all the hoopla.

People like Dolphy or Bob Hope. Jerry Lewis or Dean Martin. You know... old people.

Or Michael Jackson. Or Elvis. You know...dead people.

You don't usually expect this kind of thing to happen. Not to you. Not while you're living.

But it has.

I mean, there they are. They're all there. And they're talking about you.

What do you do? How do you respond?

What do you say?

"Thank you."

Better yet, "Thank You."

Thank You, Lord! Because, for everything said and everything appreciated, behind it all was You. You, Lord are the true Reason why people even see anything noteworthy in our lives.

You are the One Who truly deserves everything that was said and expressed by gracious words from grateful hearts. You alone deserve all the glory and praise.

And so, Lord, we say, as one family -

"Not to us, O LORD, not to us

but to your name be the glory,
because of your love and faithfulness."

~ Ps. 115:1

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Hey gang,

Thanks for everything! We truly are blessed!

We love you, ICS family!

~ Ptr. Jesse, Rose, Jesi, Charles and Josh Dedel