Christian Living

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Church Lady
©
by

Stephen A. Peterson


Jeannie’s alarm went off. It was the first Sunday of the month—October 4, 2004. Jeannie, 15, was so very tired after spending all day in Norman, Oklahoma watching a college football game between the University of Oklahoma Sooners and Texas Technical University Red Raiders with her father. She wanted to sleep in but she would have felt guilty for the rest of the day if she did not worship God in His house. So she got showered and put on her Sunday best. She rode her bicycle to church located three blocks away making it just moments before services began. As she bowed her head in humble prayer in the presence of the Lord, a short statured, middle aged, gray haired woman just sat down besides her wearing the biggest smile.

The woman’s presence would not have concerned Jeannie so much if she didn’t smell so bad and her clothes were not so bad looking. She wore a pair of hole filled, faded jeans and a yellow blouse that may not have been washed in a month. With plenty of room on either side, Jeannie thought, “why do our persons have to touch? It bothers me so much! She looks so bad and that smell… Oh, my!” But it did not seem to bother her at all.

Then the preacher began the prayer, “Heavenly Father…” but Jeannie thought, “Doesn’t this woman have any pride? Gosh! She’s killing my nose! And her dress! Man! Holes filled jeans and a nasty, gross yellow blouse standing next to me! Oh, I think I’m going to barf!”

“Thank You, Lord, for your blessings…” said the preacher. The woman said in low, quiet voice, “Amen. Thank You Jesus.”

Jeannie tried hard to concentrate on the prayer, but her thoughts were on the lady next to her. “Aren’t we supposed to look our very best when we come to visit the Lord in His house. Well, this nasty woman certainly broke this rule,” as she made a side glance to the woman who now had bowed her head and closed her eyes.

The prayer ended and songs of praise began. The woman sang loudly, was off key but sang with pride. She lifted the rafters. Her hands were high in the air. Tears swelled in her eyes then made a stream past her checks. “The Lord most certainly heard her petitions whatever they were,” thought Jeannie. “Maybe she asked for some better clothes and a bath! Whew!”

Then the offering plate was passed. Jeannie put a ten dollar bill on the plate. The woman reached into her bra then presented a brown leather coin purse. Jeannie then heard a soft metallic “clink” as a coin tapped the edge of the highly polished stainless steel plate.

The preacher’s sermon just bored Jeannie to death. But the woman’s eyes filled with tears that she brushed away with one swipe of her blouse covered arm as she bellowed out a resounding “Amen”.
At the end of the service, it was the custom of the church community to great visits and guests and show them that they are welcomed and loved. Jeannie was moved to meet this woman. So when the church service was over, Jeannie shook her hand. The woman looked all wrinkled. Her skin was mixed with dark brown liver spots over slightly tanned florid-flaccid skin. Her hair was held together in a ponytail by a green rubber band. Jeannie thanked her for coming and for being a visitor to the church.

The woman said, “My name is Cecelia. I’m glad to meet you, young lady. May the Lord bless you and keep you and show His mercy towards you!” There were tears in her greenish-blue eyes. She had a wide grin. “Let me explain something,” she said as she wiped her teary eyes. “I’ve been coming to this church the last eight months and you’re the first person to greet me and say ‘Hi’. I know that I don’t look like all the rest of the people who attend church here. I always try to look my very best to present myself to my Lord. I take bathes over at the Salvation Army place and wash my clothes there too! But on this hot day I began sweating on my way here. Then I stopped to help a sick woman and her children get to a hospital. They lived in a roach infested, feces, garbage filled house.”

Jeannie’s heart feel to her feet and tears began to gill her eyes but she bravely held them back.

The woman continued, “I must have grossed you out. Let me apologize to you for sitting so close to you. But you looked so like an angel kneeling in prayer before the Lord. You had what looked like a pretty light around you that I had to see up close. I figured you had to be an angel of the Lord. If I sat next to you, God would bless and touch me. He did too through you.”

Jeannie was stunned. She could not say anything for about three minutes. “Ms. Cecelia, it is you who have touched me. You have taught me to never judge a person by how he or she looks or smells. It is what’s in a person’s heart.” Jeannie never mentioned what she thought. Ms. Cecelia never knew what was in her heart. But Jeannie asked God to forgive her for such evil thoughts. Then she prayed, “How loving the Lord is who touched my heart and soul and has forgiven me of my sins!”

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