Archive for Devotional
Spiritual Battle Is For Keeps
Posted by: | Comments
If you’re a women’s ministry leader (or really any kind of ministry leader), you can be assured that when you are planning a program, an event or a worship service, you are going to face spiritual attack.
Our office is one week away from our largest annual event. We are expecting more than 2,200 women for a weekend of meeting with the Lord. We have a keen understanding that many women arrive with lots of burdens and spiritual needs.
So why would we not expect to encounter struggles?
In the matter of two hours yesterday, our office felt the impact. There were three phone calls that involved conflict resolution. One of our key retreat team members was called for jury duty. One team member might need surgery. One team member has cancer. All I could say was, “God must be up to something great if the enemy is working this hard.”
If we’re to expect spiritual warfare as a leader, then how do we respond? Here’s some practical things to remember when you are under attack:
1) Prayer is an essential weapon. Yesterday, Kristin (my assistant) and I just stopped and spent time praying. One of my team members sent out an email to our leadership team and called on them to pray. Ephesians 6:18 in The Message says, ”In the same way, prayer is essential in this ongoing warfare. Pray hard and long. Pray for your brothers and sisters. Keep your eyes open. Keep each other’s spirits up so that no one falls behind or drops out.” Even in the midst of what was happening around us, prayer kept us focused and gave us peace. I loved a tweet I saw from Louie Giglio this week that said, “If we knew what was really happening when we pray, we would pray more.” Agreed.
2) Recognize your weakness and depend on God’s strength. God has a good way of humbling me and reminding me that I can’t complete tasks without depending on Him. When was the last time God asked you to do something bigger than you could do in your own power and strength? In the same passage in Ephesians, Paul says, “You’re up against far more than you can handle on your own.”
3) Be prepared before you head into battle. There are many things Godly leaders must do on a consistent basis to prepare themselves for spiritual battle. Spending time in God’s word and putting on the full armor of God happens before you go into the arena–not when the arrows are aimed straight at you. Paul begins Eph. 6:13 by saying two simple words, “Be prepared.”
4) What you do has eternal significance. I sometimes think ministry leaders don’t fully realize this. We battle for keeps. When you hear about conflict, struggles and unforeseen circumstances from others who aren’t in ministry, be mindful of the differences. While I don’t want to negate the struggles others go through, I think ministry leaders should recognize that the work of their hands has eternal value. I can’t say it any better than Paul did in this passage when he wrote, “This is no afternoon athletic contest that we’ll walk away from and forget about in a couple of hours. This is for keeps, a life-or-death fight to the finish against the Devil and all his angels.”
How are you handling spiritual warfare today dear ministry leader? Let’s get out the sword of God’s word and do battle for the Lord. I’m glad I’m on the Victor’s side.
Same Same, Different
Posted by: | Comments
Today’s post was written by Heather McAnear. Heather is the women’s ministry leader at Bethany, Council Road. She and her husband, Garrick, teach young adults and just returned from their second trip to Cambodia. Heather serves on the BGCO State Leadership Team.
The dust gathered around us like a cloud and tears glistened in my daughter Madi’s eyes. This was our last day in a poor fishing village, wrapping up our 10-day mission trip to Cambodia. We’d been warned about taking a ten-year-old on a trip like this – out of the country, out of her comfort zone. There were the normal questions about how she’d handle the long flight, the food, the new culture and the “squatty potty”. But we felt a certain peace that we were doing the right thing. And on this last day in the village we’d all fallen in love with, I’d never been more sure of our decision to take her. Honestly, even I was shocked by how well she did.
The language was a definite obstacle for the adults to overcome, but within minutes, Madi was laughing and playing with children she’d never met and could not say one word to. Within the first day, she had a best friend for the week. Her ability to play with and enjoy the children only grew each day. Little did Madi know how she would pack up memories of her time with these precious children from half-way across the world, complete with nick-names and inside jokes in just a few days. To say she left the village with stronger one-on-one relationships than I did is an understatement. Although I, too, fell in love with the beautiful people and had my own tears as we pulled away, I found myself constantly frustrated by the hurdle of language. I wanted to say so much, but could communicate so little. No doubt the people of this village saw and felt our love and the Gospel was clearly spoken through our translators, but leave me alone with the locals and I felt naked. Smile and nod, smile and nod….that was my routine.
Kids are different, though. They refuse to stand around looking at each other, smiling and nodding. They jump right in and get to the point: forget what’s different, what’s the same? This is the essence of the Cambodian phrase, “Same Same, Different.” We may look different, but under it all we’re really the same. What was harder for an adult to see was easier through a child’s lens. When Madi was asked about the differences, she paused and said, “I don’t know. They’re kids and they love to play games with me.” I must admit, at first, my “mother alarm” was going crazy. Seriously? Are your eyes even open? These kids are living in the very center of poverty in a developing country. They’ve never tasted Chick-Fil-A, and you don’t see anything different? (Thankfully, I held my tongue and didn’t share these thoughts!) Through further conversation, it became evident that, yes, she noticed the stark differences between her reality and theirs, but that wasn’t what she was capitalizing on. Amid the dust, the hunger, the nakedness and the language difference, my little girl just saw kids who wanted to laugh and play. She wasn’t side-tracked by schedules or hand-sanitizer. She was making friends and sharing Jesus with her smile and her hugs.
On our last day, she and I were invited into the home of her newfound BFF. I took Madi’s lead as I looked into the eyes of her friend’s mother and observed similarities. I noticed photos on the wall, a baby on her lap and a sweet banana treat we shared. We were just two moms with our little girls. And as we stood watching our girls hug good-bye for the 18th time, tears pooled in both of our eyes. Same same, different.
This is the heartbeat of missions, whether it is across the world or around the corner. Instead of focusing on all that is different – and let’s be honest, that reality is usually glaring – a look at what is the same will knit our hearts faster and more sincerely. When we approach missions with the mindset that we are here only because we have something great to offer, we set up an immediate “us and them” mentality. Many will still be able to do good work for the kingdom but will not be easily able to break the tension between missionary and friend. It will be difficult for those we are reaching to ever see us in the same light as themselves; we put up a barrier, difficult to remove. However, when we approach the same work, with the same things to offer but seek to humanize and familiarize ourselves those we are serving, we make it possible to cross that bridge in our own hearts and in theirs.
What about you? Who do you need to see through a new lens or persepective? Have you been so focused on all that is different that you find it hard to relate at all? Whether it’s in the realm of women’s ministry, missions or your next-door-neighbor, let’s take a lesson from our Cambodian friends and look for the “same same, different”.
A Prayer Valentine For Your Children
Posted by: | Comments
I love Valentine’s Day. As a little girl, I loved exchanging cards, getting chocolate from my dad, and hoping that someday I would find a special someone. I still love cards, chocolate and the special gifts from my husband. He hasn’t always figured out that while I complain about the calories in candy and the temporary life of fresh cut flowers, the rules go out the window on this day. Everyone wants to know they are loved.
This year I’ve decided to extend Valentine’s Day a little longer and make it a little more personal. I still bought cards and candy for my family, but this year I did something a little different. Over the past couple of days, I’ve spent some one-on-one time with each of my children. I asked them to trace their hand on a piece of paper–just like they did when they were in preschool. Both of them looked at me with puzzled faces, but granted my request. After I had their handprint on paper, I told them I was going to use them as a way to pray for them the rest of this semester. On each finger, I listed specific ways I could pray for them. I explained that I prayed for them everyday, but this would help me understand their specific needs and how I could intercede for them.
While I didn’t have a specific reason for each finger, I did break down each finger into the following categories: education/work, relationships with friends and the opposite sex, physical needs, their future desires/dreams; and finally, their spiritual needs. There weren’t any huge surprises, but I thought it was interesting that both of my kids told me something similar regarding friendships. They both expressed that they wanted me to pray they would develop friendships with new people–especially those they wouldn’t normally gravitate towards.
This morning as I prepared to write this post, I pulled out their hand prints to pray for them. It had been a long time since I had really looked at their hands. When did Conner’s hands get so big? I prayed especially for the hand he would someday hold and call his bride. And had I ever noticed how similar Courtney’s hands were to mine? Just like me, her fingers are long and thin. How will she someday bless others with her hands as she desires to teach young children?
Today I will add Vic’s hand print to my collection. While I love Valentine gifts, I love him most for his servant hands–the hands that scraped ice off of Courtney’s car yesterday morning, the hands that drag the trashcans out to the curb every Monday morning, the hands that pass the offering plate every Sunday morning in our church service; and even the hands that were burned by jalapenos on Christmas Eve when he spent all day smoking meat.
I’m grateful for the hands I get to hold. Whose hands do you need to pray for today? Hold them tightly and say a Valentine prayer of gratefulness.
Taking Good Care of You
Posted by: | Comments
While walking the midway of a state fair, a carnival worker asked, “Ma’am, Can I guess your age or weight?” I glared at him and said, “If you get either one right I will be furious.” I was particularly concerned about his thoughts on my weight.
If you’re like me, you stand each morning before the mirror as if you expect there to be a judge peering over your shoulder, poised to deliver a verdict on each imperfection.
I don’t know if you’ve figured it out yet, but the standard for “beautiful” is a moving target. It’s like living in a land of no absolutes—yet it’s a land in which we’re still expected to measure up. We feel pressured to look like we did in our 20s. We feel inferior if we don’t look like the stunning people we see in movies, magazines, and television.
Staking our self-image on impossible standards sets us on shifting ground that often puts us on two ends of a spectrum: we either relentlessly pursue attractiveness or we feel like we’re not worthy of giving any attention to ourselves. When we visit either end of this spectrum, we’re buying into the lie that our physical appearance somehow determines our worth.
So how do we find the balance between looking our best while keeping the pursuit to do so in check? Remembering these truths should help:
Our physical bodies are a gift from God (Psalm 139:13-16)
God fashioned each of us as unique human beings, designed to inherit a genetic makeup. Because we’re reflections of God’s image in one-of-a-kind style, we need to recognize and appreciate who He created us to be. In God’s Kingdom, there is no impossible physical standard to reach, only variations on a creative work called humanity.
Our physical bodies are a temple of the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 3:16-17)
If we truly believe this, then taking care of our bodies will be a daily priority. We’re stewards of the body God has given to us. He needs us rested enough to serve, fueled enough to work, conditioned enough to endure, and alert enough to think.
Our physical bodies are a means to worship God (1 Corinthians 10:31)
Anything we do that brings God pleasure is an act of worship. God is pleased when we take good care of ourselves. This means even physical exercise and eating healthy are a means by which we can bring God glory. That should certainly revolutionize our attitude toward both!
We need to find a reasonable approach to taking care of ourselves that allows us to accept and appreciate ourselves for who we are now—not who we once were or hope to be. We also need to remember that just as with our spiritual selves, God deals with us individually about our physical selves. Our goal should be to care for our bodies in such a way that we’ll possess more physical energy, strength, and endurance we can devote to spiritual goals.
Meet you at the gym?
Today’s guest blogger is Carol Sallee. Carol is a prolific writer and speaker. You can contact her at www.carolsallee.com.
The “Jimmy Leg”
Posted by: | Comments
Today’s guest post is by Laci Tompkins. Laci is the head women’s basketball coach at the University of Science and Arts in Chickasha. She serves on the BGCO state women’s leadership team and on the state human trafficking task force. You can contact Laci at ltompkins@usao.edu.
Do you or your spouse have the “jimmy leg?” You know, the restless leg that kicks randomly in the night with sporadic jerks? It’s somewhat interesting at first, but then as time goes by, it becomes a problem. There is no sleep, no rest, anxiety and so on. There are times in our lives when we too become restless. We become discontent and unsettled with anything from our house, our job, our marriage, our place in life, our church responsibilities and an assortment of other things. In all these areas, we need to learn how to model contentment, not restlessness.
Being content is easier said than done. That’s like asking a child who just had a candy bar and a soft drink to sit still on a bench in a toy store for thirty minutes! It’s not happening. It’s our nature to keep a demanding pace, set higher goals and strive for more. But in the midst of our restlessness, are we demonstrating our lack of dependence on God? Simply put, is God enough for you?
Sometimes I believe God allows difficult times and situations to humble us. It is during these times He reminds us He is everything. He is enough and more. In Luke 10:7-8 Jesus sends out seventy-two new disciples and He gives them instructions on how to conduct themselves. He tells them don’t move around from house to house, and eat and drink what their hosts gives them. In other words, model contentment and not restlessness. Psalm 46:10 says, “Be still and know that I am God.” It also states, “But godliness with contentment is great gain.” If you are going through a difficult time, be still, acknowledge God is all you need and unclench your fingers from your fists. Give up your dream for God’s dream, and your wants for His will. Pray His desires become your desires.
If you find you have the “spiritual jimmy leg”, then recognize it for what it is. The Bible says we are drawn away by our own lusts. Reel it back in and simmer down. Count your blessings and model contentment. And when you catch yourself behaving like the child hyped up on sugar, remind yourself, “I will not be that child.”
There’s No Retirement Here
Posted by: | Comments
It will be several years before I can officially retire from working. But, a few days ago I was reminded that retirement from working does not mean retiring from ministry.
Last week I blogged about the precious little girls I met at the annual Lottie Moon Tea. On Friday, I met with a group of women from Baptist Village Communities to share the message of missions. Instead of me teaching them, I was the one who “got schooled!”
First, these women all live independently and are quite active. Their activities director told me, “They wear me out! I can’t find enough things for them to do!” One of the women was the Children’s Specialist for our convention until her retirement in 1998. Another was an education minister in our state for many years. Talk about organizers! I’ve known Joyce Shelby since I was in college, and she was a woman in ministry long before it was acceptable in many of our churches. She paved the way for women in full time ministry.
These women had the room completely decorated. They had placemats made with the Lottie Moon artwork. They had refreshments. They had an agenda. They had it going on – even down to their Christmas sweaters. One woman even came straight from her church where she had been a volunteer for their food pantry. (In the back of my mind, I kept telling myself that I was looking into the future. I can just see me running the women’s meetings at the retirement center and looking for the right centerpieces!)
As I stood before them to speak and share my heart for the world, I was overwhelmed with emotion. For those of you who know me, that’s not too difficult to believe. As I looked into their faces, I was reminded that this generation raised me. They taught me about Jesus. They sacrificed for me. They gave of their finances and time. Most importantly, they prayed for me. They encouraged me when I came to the convention. How could I not feel like I was standing in a room full of spiritual mothers?
Today I received a thank you note from their leader. Yes, people still actually write thank you notes that aren’t a Facebook message. Once again, I was reminded we should honor those who have gone before us.
As a leader, how have you honored those before you? How can you be an encouragement to them? I shudder at the thought of losing this generation of women. They are the backbone of many churches. The biggest honor we could bestow is to take up the mantle for missions by giving, praying, sending and going. We can honor them by deciding our retirement from work is only a step into a new phase of servanthood. Until we face eternity, let’s press on toward the mark of Christ Jesus. He’s not through with you.
Thank You Steve Jobs
Posted by: | CommentsMany of us went to bed last night knowing that Apple founder Steve Jobs had passed away. You might have learned of his death on the device he invented. I’m typing this post on my fourth Apple computer. I have an iPhone and an iPad. Today I’m thankful for Jobs’ genius.
1) Apple changed the way I worked. My first job was a typesetter in college. The machine I worked on took up an entire room. I worked in the public relations department at Oklahoma Baptist University where I studied journalism. I would painfully take the typed pages of the writers and input them into an enormous machine that would spew out the copy into nice strips of glossy white paper. They would be waxed, cut and placed on boards before they could be printed. Five years later, I saw my first MacIntosh computer at a conference. I marveled at the way someone could actually input copy, manipulate type and place it directly on a page that could be sent to a printer. I coaxed my boss to make the investment, learned the process, and became an instant fan. Thank you Steve Jobs for completely changing the print business for the better and for making work easier.
2) Apple actually gave me a platform for work. I left my job after giving birth to our first child. Within six months, a graphic designer friend called me and asked if I would be willing to take on some free lance work. I told him I didn’t have a personal Mac. He said, “buy one” and start a business. My little layout business, called K2 Communications, provided extra income for our family for more than 9 years while I stayed home with young children.
3) My Apple computers have allowed me to design things I could never have imagined. Whether it’s a video for my children, a pocket size book with photos or a handout for a seminar, my MacBook has allowed me to be creative far beyond my imagination or my ability. Why? Because they are simple, easy to use and just plain fun. Thank you Steve Jobs for making technology good looking and fun. (my computer has also saved me storage space because now I don’t print pictures, I don’t buy actual CDs and now I don’t buy printed books. I can carry it all on my computer, my phone and my iPad.)
4) Thank you for being a company who stood beside me when my MacBook actually failed. Yep, that’s right. The MacBook that I’m typing this post on crashed a couple of years ago. I have to tell you that my stomach actually felt sick. When I took it to the Apple Store, I was told the computer had failed and I had lost all my data. They tried desperately to recover the loss of my data, and although it was unsuccessful, they fixed the computer at no charge. I learned a valuable lesson in that experience. Apple backs its products and I need to back up my hard drive!
So, today, I’m grateful for Steve Jobs. I’m grateful for his creative and innovative mind that has honestly changed the way we communicate. I do not know if Jobs’ accepted Christ as his personal Savior. I have been told he was a Zen Buddhist. He wasn’t philanthropic. He even took money from Steve Wozniak on the sale of a game. I would like to think that in his final days, someone shared the Gospel with him. It’s a sober reminder to all believers that no matter how much influence you have on earth, your eternal destiny is the most important decision you can make. You and I may not leave a legacy of technological advances, but we can leave a legacy of making Kingdom advances.
Sudan Sitting In My House
Posted by: | Comments
It’s hard to remember exactly when I met Dinafor, but I know it was sometime during my son’s senior year of high school. Being on the soccer team of a large high school, it wasn’t uncommon for Conner to bring home friends who were from different parts of the world. Soccer truly is an international sport and our family has enjoyed the way these students have enriched our lives.
Din was just a freshman the year Conner graduated, but we’ve continued the relationship because he started coming to our church and is the same age as our daughter. We knew his family was from Africa, and more specifically, the Sudan. I’ve asked the typical questions about his large family and their eating habits of goat and rice. (because goat isn’t something that’s easily available at the local grocery store!) We had heard that his family escaped the atrocities of Sudan by winning a lottery and given the chance to have a life in the U.S. In short, our family and our church family, loves this young man.
But the reality of Sudan sat in my living room last Sunday night. After hosting our senior small group, Din stayed around after most of the students had left and I saw him talking intently with my husband, Vic. I could tell by the conversation that Din was carrying a huge burden. He’s not a big talker, so I knew something was heavy on his heart.
After he left, Vic began to explain Din’s concern about his family who are still in Sudan. There had been recent threats on their lives and they were living in danger. While most of our high school senior students are obsessed with graduation and college plans, Dinafor’s main concern was for the welfare of his homeland and his family. Vic prayed and encouraged him. It was moment I doubt my husband will forget.
I started thinking about the number of students in our high schools and colleges who are from other countries. When was the last time you had an international student in your home? Did you know most students who come to the United States as an exchange student or as a college student have never been invited to share a meal with an American family? In the past six months, we’ve had students from China, Africa and Mexico.
What responsibility do Christians have with these students? I couldn’t help but hear Din’s heart for Sudan. He truly believes God will send him back to his homeland to make a difference. He wants to play soccer for their national team. He would be a hero in his country! And we have the opportunity to pour God’s word into his life and into his heart. God could use Din to bring about spiritual change in a war-torn country. That’s just mind-boggling when I look at him sitting in my living room and interacting with other teenagers.
Sometimes missions means going to Sudan. But, for me, missions was Sudan sitting in my living room.
True Grit vs. Pride and Prejudice
Posted by: | Comments
If are living under a rock or have no idea why you are seeing red today, let me quickly remind you today is Valentine’s Day. So, how are you celebrating?
Vic and I gave up a long time ago on going out on the actual day of Valentine’s. We decided the long lines and poor service you usually get just didn’t meet our expectations of a romantic dinner. And, believe it or not, throughout our courtship, we never once went to a movie in a theatre. (I will admit there were several VHS showings we enjoyed) We just always felt communication didn’t happen while staring ahead at a screen and not each other! (that was the sappy part of this post)
All in all, Valentine’s in our marriage is a little about give and take. At least that’s what we experienced this weekend.
We actually made a plan to go to the theatre Friday evening (pre-Valentine’s date). Vic wanted to see “True Grit”. I actually wanted to see it as well. (you are probably thinking–seriously–”True Grit” came out over Christmas. Didn’t I tell you we were a little slow at the movie theatre thing?) Honestly, Vic had seen the movie with our son while I was out of town and couldn’t wait to see it again. Believe me, it must be some kind of movie when he will spend $9 to see it TWICE! So, we went. After it was over, he beamed, “Wasn’t that the greatest movie?”
Here’s where my honesty got me in trouble. “Yeah. It was o.k.”
True words. Truly meant. I thought the acting was great. I would rather see Matt Damon as Jason Bourne, but hey–it’s Matt Damon. But as we talked about the movie, I realized it just didn’t have the happy ending I love. The girl grew up to be an unhappy spinster without an arm and Rooster was dead. So sorry to ruin the movie for you. But that’s how I felt.
The next night we found ourselves curled up on the couch. I had watched “True Grit.” But tonight was my turn. As I flipped through the channels, there it was — “Pride and Prejudice”. The chick flick movie to end all chick flick movies. And guess what? My sweet Valentine, although he grimmaced, shared the couch with me and endured the next few hours of Jane Austen romance.
I don’t know about you, but that’s a good Valentine–someone who’s willing to put aside their personal preferences and just share each other’s presence. I’m so glad to have a husband who knows my love language is quality time, even if it means watching a movie he’d rather sleep through (although he doesn’t complain about Keira Knightley)
But even though I love my Valentine, there’s one example of love that outdoes them all. He’s a Valentine who humbled Himself, became a man, died on a cross and conquered death. If marriages today could reflect just an inkling of Christ’s humility and sacrifice, I think we’d see fewer divorces. I think we’d see husbands who love their brides as Christ loves the church. I think we’d see women who respond to their husbands with greater respect and affection.
Curl up with the one you love today. And, even if it’s “True Grit”, enjoy the company of who you’re with. And if you don’t have a Valentine, curl up with God’s greatest love letter–His word. Let Him shower you with His love today.
Saying Good-bye to Mimi
Posted by: | Comments
It was almost exactly the same time last week that I received a call from my husband instructing me to meet him at the emergency room. His mother had become unresponsive at home and they had already resuscitated her once.
The next twelve hours were a roller coaster ride of emotions, decisions and tough phone conversations. By that evening, our beloved Mimi had passed from this life and was resting in the arms of the Lord.
The death of a loved one is never easy, even when you are comforted by God’s promises. There is a separation and a void. We will never think of Christmas the same without Mimi’s stockings or attend the Oklahoma City Arts Festival without being reminded of the many times we watched her dance with her tap class.
The evening after her passing, I sat down to write down a few thoughts for my father-in-law. I hope you don’t mind me sharing them with you.
As an adult, I’ve encountered many women who tell me stories about their mother-in-laws—stories about wanting control, vying for attention and spreading horrible lies. I could never quite relate, because my relationship with Betty was so profoundly different. She was not just my mother-in-law. She was my mother-in-love—a mom that was given to me as a love gift when I entered the King family.
For 22 years, I’ve had the privilege of having a woman treat me as her own and accepting me for who I am. I’ll never forget her making me a special silk drawstring bag for my wedding shoes or for giving me a really goofy t-shirt and visor for my honeymoon so I wouldn’t get sunburned. While it definitely wasn’t my “style”, I felt obligated to wear it as a sign of support for my new husband. As I wore the gear on a snorkeling trip, Vic promptly asked, “Where did you get that?” and instructed me to never wear it again!
Betty was the consummate peacemaker. She hesitated to make decisions, only because she wanted others to get their way. That was exactly her—always thinking about the other person and not herself. She was frugal, not only because Skipper probably forced it on her, but mainly because she wanted to bless someone else.
Betty was a wonderful wife, mother and Mimi. She was always loyal and a helpmate in every situation. She raised three wonderful children and I just happen to be married to a son who exhibits a lot of her same qualities. Because we lived in the same city, my children had the rare opportunity to spend a lot of time with Mimi. How many women have two grandmothers fighting over babysitting time? And while she never quite got the rules of soccer, she sat through many games just because she didn’t want to miss seeing anything. She’s sat through recitals, sports games and church programs—not because she didn’t have anything else to do—but because she was just a proud Mimi.
Organization would definitely not describe Betty! I spent one whole Mother’s Day afternoon trying to rearrange the cabinets in the dining room only to discover they were worse a month later. That’s because she saved everything and wanted to spend her time on relationships and not on whether things were put away. There were countless meals that I was denied access to the dishwasher or the putting away of dishes. She always wanted us to “relax and visit” while she would putter around washing every dish by hand. Honestly, she probably didn’t want us in there because. heaven forbid. we would throw away leftover food, a piece of foil or plastic wrap—you know those things can always be used again.
Christmas at the Kings was always a highlight with Betty. She cherished having her grandchildren there and she would insist on everyone wearing a Santa hat while presents were distributed. Our favorite part of Christmas was discovering what Mimi had stashed in the stockings. There were always interesting surprises—including toilet seat covers, breath drops and the ever-needed magnet notepad for our refrigerator. And it wasn’t just Christmas! Mimi always had a goody bag for Valentine’s, Halloween and Easter! It was her simple way of saying, “I spent time thinking about you.”
I did not come from a family that knew much about dancing, so seeing Betty tap dance was a new experience for this Baptist girl who has no moves. Each time I would take the kids by the dance studio to see Mimi, we were entertained by the latest tap class. Mimi was always so proud of her dancing and we looked forward each year to seeing her smile from ear to ear at the Arts Festival. For someone who didn’t like to draw attention to herself, she quite enjoyed being an entertainer! Her dance friends became our friends and I can just imagine her dancing in heaven now.
Even in the past few months, I never once heard Betty complain about treatments or wonder why God allowed cancer to consume her body. She was brave. She was positive. And she had confidence in her eternity.
So while other women may complain about their mother-in-laws, I will forever be grateful for mine. I am the one whose life has been blessed because of her life and I can only pray that I have learned from her example.
If you have a mother-in-law who is living, I hope you’ll take time to think of her positive qualities today. Don’t miss an opportunity to tell her she is loved. You’ll be grateful you did.
I am the Women's Missions and Ministries Specialist for the Baptist General Convention of Oklahoma. Our purpose is to encourage women to embrace and echo God's heart for the world.
