Daughter-in-law. Hero. Friend.

I’ve held my tongue, but no longer. I simply have to brag about my daughter-in-law.

A couple years ago, she was in training to take over one of the local Sonic stores as an owner. (As if that’s not enough to be proud of!) While at one of the stores in Knoxville late one night, a man came up to the store, held a gun to her head and robbed her and the store.

She’s had some rough times since then. Seems the guy had found her cell phone contract in her purse and kept the number, then called her a few times to remind her of what he’d done.

Last month, February 2010, she brought her son again to serve with our students as we cooked and served hamburgers & hot dogs for the homeless folks who came to visit us in a parking lot in Knoxville. She had even donated the burgers & dogs! (Just something else to be proud of, huh?)

The night was not uneventful. There was a very boisterous fellow who was everywhere, talking loudly to everyone — he “had things under control”. There was the guy singing & dancing hip hop. He even tried to teach me a step or two! (Okay, stop laughing. It’s not THAT funny. Okay, maybe it is, but you need to keep reading.) There was the guy I’ve shared about with no hope and a woman openly weeping.

In the midst of all that, my daughter-in-law was faced with something frightening and I didn’t know anything at all about it until I’d gotten home and saw this on her Facebook status.

Naturally, I wanted to know what this “largest issue” was and asked her. Following is the conversation we had:

A friend of hers shared, too:

Even now, my eyes fill thinking about how brave and how selfless this young woman is. She’s not only beautiful, a great wife and mom, she’s a hero and an example of the healing power of God. I’m so glad our son married her and I’m so glad she’s the mother of our grandchild.

Most of all, I’m glad I get to call her a friend.

Related posts:

1. Missing a Friend