Previous Challenge Entry (Level 1 – Beginner)
Topic: Willingness (02/21/05)
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TITLE: "Are You Willing?" | Previous Challenge Entry
By Suzanne Shepard
02/26/05 -
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Getting all three children to cooperate and stay focused seemed especially difficult on Sunday mornings. Regardless, going to worship service was the highlight of Maggie’s week.
Pastor Steve was a great preacher. He served excellent messages topped off with delightful sprinkles of humor. Maggie saw his sermons as the most nutritious meal of her week. Raising three young ones on her own sapped her of energy; body, mind, and spirit. The Sunday morning feast renourished her in a wonderful way.
Inside the church foyer, the young family was greeted with warmth and friendly hugs.
“Good to see you Maggie… Bobby, Chelsea, Sissy.” Each one got a squeeze and a smile and then they settled into their usual pew … third row from the back …
Holding Sissy on her lap, Maggie glanced through this week’s bulletin and skimmed over the outline of Pastor Steve’s sermon for today. The title of it was, “Finding Peace in the Storm”.
“Ah Lord,” Maggie sighed, “I can’t wait to hear this one. This week has been one storm after another.” Scenes of the week’s conflicts began to unfold in her mind’s eye...her heated conversation with her ex-husband; her boss’s impatient attitude at work…
“Oh,” Maggie was snapped back, as the offering plate was being passed. She needed to get her envelope out of her purse. It was on the floor under the pew in front of her so she asked Bobby to reach it for her. Chelsea heard Mommy’s request and tried to beat Bobby to it. In the process, Bobby cracked his head on the wooden book holder and the back of the pew in front of them.
“Ow-w-w!” he wailed, as the tears began to flow, “Mommy told me, Chelsea …I’m getting her purse!’
Here we go again, Maggie sighed as she tried to calm them down. Every Sunday it’s something. If only the church was big enough to have a class for the children to attend during the main service so she could worship in peace. But in this little community, it probably wouldn’t happen for awhile. The congregation was still quite small and they probably didn’t see the need.
Maggie examined Bobby’s forehead and it looked slightly bruised, but not cut, so a few kisses and a big hug took care of the tears.
Settling back, they listened quietly to Pastor’s beginning anecdotes. He had a way of mixing humor with a serious subject that kept everyone waiting to hear what he had to say next. He was the best, most encouraging minister Maggie had ever heard speak. His Sunday morning messages were the highlight of her week.
“Chelsea, sit back.” Maggie whispered sternly.
“But Mommy, I want to sit next to you.”
“You are fine, Honey. I can’t hold you right now because I have Sissy on my lap.”
“But, Mommy, Bobby keeps pinching me and I don’t want to be by him anymore … STOP IT Bobby!” Chelsea shouted out loud.
As Maggie made a quick move to keep Bobby from striking Chelsea, little Sissy’s head made a loud ‘thud’ on the pew in front of them. Then the wailing began. “Oh my gosh, why do I even bother to come?”
The congregation’s attention turned her way – everyone was looking at her little disruptive family, wondering why she didn’t just get up and take those children out!
This young woman came to church because she loves Jesus and she needs the refreshing waters of the Word of God to wash over her dried-up soul.
I wonder, is there anyone who can remember the frustrations of their former years when they needed and desired the love of a helping hand on Sunday morning? Looking around at the frowning and judgmental faces, is there anyone amongst them who’d be willing to give Maggie a break?
Every time Jesus was approached with the needs of hurting people, His answer was always the same, “I am willing…”
We are called to be His hands, His feet, the extension of His love to this world. Now the question is for us to answer, “Are you willing?”
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