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They Do Come Home
By Sali Butler
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| Photo: Sali Butler |
Having run away from home at the age of 13, Bubba found refuge in the streets of Baltimore, MD. He dropped out of high school and remained estranged from his mother and three younger sisters who were experiencing trauma of a different kind. He found a way to visit every two or three years. Sometimes he even stayed around for a month or two. But for the most part, he was a drifter, working odd jobs while living for the thrill of city lights, night life, and the latest high.
One warm summer night, Bubba showed up at his mother’s door with two friends and a small box of vinyl records. He said they found them near the train station and that the box must have fallen from a freight car. One of the singles was a popular R&B song, “Tell It Like It Is.” The girls had a ball handing those records out in the neighborhood to friends, “Merry Christmas,” they said for they'd never had gifts for anyone before.
More than 40 years later, Bubba’s life seemed to be worth nothing more than the momentary high he found at the end of his dirty needles. The family had experienced episodes of money stolen from purses while sleeping, small appliances walking away in broad daylight and even a stolen car on occasion. Teaming up with his new brother-in-law, he confiscated all of their wedding gifts. Nothing was sacred unless it was nailed down and Bubba couldn’t get his hands on a hammer.
Nevertheless, his mother—a praying Christian woman—didn’t stop believing that God would someday turn her son’s life around. Though the thin line between co-dependency, enabling, and a mother’s love is very fine, she finally learned where to draw the line.
Bubba’s mother died before her prayers for him were answered. Her death was a devastating blow to his heart. Bubba found himself deeply depressed, wanting to die, too. He thought his mother was the only one, who ever really cared about him. She was his “Rock”—his strength.
Reaching Out
Mena, Bubba's oldest sister, began making trips into the city of Philadelphia six months after their mother’s death to find her brother. She lived in a small suburb 40 miles away and thought the fresh air would do him some good. She was determined to help her brother get his life back.
When they would arrive at her home, she would say, “Go take a shower and put on those clean clothes on the bed in the back room.” She would take him to the barber shop for a hair cut and a shave. On Sundays, she would take him with her to church.
The journey wasn’t an easy one. The rules were tough. No smoking, drinking, or drugs in the house. Eat food, not junk. Go to bed early and get up early. After Sunday dinner, Mena would take him back to the city.
One Sunday, when it was time to drive back to the city, Bubba asked Mena if she had an extra Bible that he could take with him. A few weeks later, he asked if he could stay until the middle of the week, promising that he would take the metro train back to the city.
His younger sister told him to start drinking water. He had always hated drinking water. "Drink it at room temperature," she told him. "No coffee, no soda—Just water."
Bubba Comes to Jesus
His middle sister would read long passages of scripture to him and repeat the sermons that she had heard at church almost verbatim. Each sister found ways of ministering to their brother in loving and kind ways. He was soaking it all up, and one day made the profound announcement, “I love Jesus Christ, and I’m going to get baptized.”
I know that all heaven rejoiced when James Arthur Butler found his way home. Every one of his mother’s prayers were answered on his behalf. He became an usher in the little Baptist church and joined the men’s ministry. His girlfriend was baptized and they married. He spent five and a half years in fellowship, faithfully caring out his usher duties, praising the Lord, and demonstrating what it was like to be born again.
Bubba passed away from symptoms associated with HIV. He died with dignity and grace. His sisters are awaiting reunion with their mother and brother when the Savior returns.
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