Max & the Big Boo-Boo

This past Thursday night when I asked for "requests" for old stories to write about here, my former student Laurie Rees (that's her in 1989- or at least that is the date on the back of the picture- stopping by our house on the way to the prom!) suggested that I write a funny story about her grandfather and my former Senior Pastor, Max Rees.  I was blessed to serve under Max for 8 years and he and his entire family had a major influence on my life and ministry.  During my years at Springfield Friends Meeting (1986-1994) I did a "Children's Moment" in worship most every Sunday morning.  When I was away that quite often meant that Max would fill in.  This is the story of one such Sunday.


In June of 1990 I took the youth group to Orlando for a week.  We left on a Saturday and so our first full day in Florida would be a Sunday.  As usual, there were many members of Max's family with us on the trip.  His daughters Barbara and Cathy were chaperons, along with his sons-in-law Butch and Robin and his daughter-in-law Judy.  Approximately 15 of his grandchildren were also with us. Max didn't like it when we were gone on a Sunday, but with so many of his family along for the ride it was hard for him to complain.  Our group had worship at the motel (the Gold Key Inn) that Sunday morning before heading over to Walt Disney World, and sometime in the midst of all that Cathy got a phone call from High Point.  This is the story she was told- as best as I can remember it.  If anyone who was there has corrections, I welcome them!

Max (at right) with the Quaker Kids Club-
Ann Saunders, Mandy Beggs, Emily Beggs,
 Natalie Whitaker, Marie Allen, Jill Gilbreth,
Beth Brown, Allison Rees, Erin Moran

Max called the children down front for their special time and began to teach an object lesson of some sort- the content of which has long since been forgotten.  As part of the lesson, he was talking about Boo-Boos.  For those of you may not speak the language, a boo-boo is a scrap or a cut one gets while playing.  Max was expecting some of the children to show him a scraped knee or an elbow with a raspberry on it.  Max knew these children well.  We ran an after-school program every Wednesday during the school year called Quaker Kids Club, and Max and his wife Avis were huge parts of the program.  As he asked to see their boo-boos, he knew they would have some to show him.  But he had not counted on his own grandson, Zack (or Zach?) Brown- Cathy's 4 (?) year old son.  Zack spoke up quickly and said, "Papa, I have a boo-boo."  Max responded by asking where the boo-boo was.  Zack responded with a booming "it's on my butt!"  Again, I only heard about the aftermath, but what I remember is this- the congregation broke out in uproarious laughter.  Max moved quickly, apparently afraid that Zack might just show everyone the boo-boo.  Zack's father Garry was sitting in his spot in the back of the church trying to make his 6'7" frame invisible to the rest of the congregation.  There was a moment of total chaos.  But I have no doubt that somehow Max rescued the moment by saying the exact right thing- because that was Max.  He just had a knack for handling whatever situation presented itself.  I'm just sorry there is no video...


We love and miss the Rees clan, although we keep up with many of them through my wife Marilyn's Facebook account.  Max & Avis are retired and living in Illinois these days, and his health has not been good lately.  Our prayers are with the entire family.  And Laurie, thanks for the request.  It's a great memory.  Have a blessed Sunday, everyone!


Because of Jesus,