Faith

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Remembering Miss Lucile
(c) 2006
by

Stephen A. Peterson


Dana Monaghan was a slightly overweight fifteen year old Euro-American girl who made friends with a seventy-six year old African-American woman named Lucile Adams. Just barely four feet nine inches tall with snow white hair, Miss Adams was always a happy woman, giving of her time, talents in the forms of homemade rag dolls and teddy bears and her treasure from her pantry or purse. A former Middle School teacher, Miss Adams opened her home to teens who visited often when they were troubled, depressed or needed friendship.

One day Dana asked Miss Adams how to handle a troubling problem she didn't seem comfortable discussing with friends or parents. "I've got a problem with temptation, Miss Adams. I want to be good but I don't want to do anything bad."

"Temptation!" shouted Miss Adams with a big smile on her face. C'mon! Let me show ya' what I do." Walking over to her kitchen table, she pointed to her white leather bound Bible. "Why, Dana, temptation is nothing more than another name for the devil. And when the ole' devil comes 'round I just pick up my Bible and read the Word to him."

Dana stared at Miss Adams, "You what, Miss Adams?"

Right then and there Miss Adams picked up her Bible and held it high above her head. "I tell the devil, 'Hey temptation! You evil, mean old, lying devil, all the promises in this Bible are mine!' Then I open up the Bible and show him what the Lord says. Look at it, you ole' liar! Read it!' Then I read it to him, and say, 'Now you git! Go on back down to hell where ya' belong! I don't need ya'! The Lord Jesus Christ is right and He keeps His promises! You don't! Move on! Git!' Try this Dana. You'll see. The devil will skedaddle and leave you alone!"

In time, Dana found the love of her life, raised daughters, son and grandchildren using Miss Adams' teachings and examples. She learned even though Miss Adam's teachings and rebuking of temptation were hilarious and off the cuff, they worked for her and all of the many teens that visited her home in times of temptation. They worked when they were troubled, depressed or needing friendship.

However, unlike Miss Adams, Dana Burke has mats at all of the entry point to her house that read: "If you reach my soul, then you have changed my heart and my life forever!"--Miss Burke

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