Being a "Church Lady" In A Hurting World.......

    

     So I am in the store one day (Target of course, with an Iced vente quad shot white chocolate mocha), in the check out line, and the lady in front of me had just ended a phone conversation where she was relaying how involved she was at her local church, and how involved she was in Sunday School, and how the church office would practically fall apart with out her..... She moved forward, where the cashier greeted her with a smile, and said, "Hello, did you find everything you needed today?".... The "church lady" peered at the cashier over the rim of her glasses, that were slipping down to the pointy end of her nose, and replied " No, but I never do, you guys are always out of what I need!" Taken aback a little, the young cashier says, " I am so sorry, can I get someone to help you with the other items you needed? We are remodeling and we might have just placed the items somewhere else temporarily." The lady, replied "No, I don't have time to wait".

     Thinking, that I could somehow decrease the discomfort this young lady was feeling, I spoke up and said "That happens to me sometimes, but the nice thing is, Target restocks really quick, and if it is on sale today, you can get a rain check. You should check back tomorrow." Never looking up, the cashier, smiled just a tad, and the church lady, just rolled her eyes.....

     It was my turn at the register, and I felt obligated to show this young lady what a real christian is all about, a real "church lady" if you will.....the cashier skipped her usual greeting and went straight to "Thank you", and replied, "no big, she was probably having a rough day from the moment she woke up, coming here and not finding what she wanted probably had nothing to do with what is bothering her"..I said. She replied " where do you go to church?"."I go to one church but two locations"I said.... "huh?', I giggled.... I go to church on Sundays and Thurdays in Corona, but we have a Saturday service here in HD. "Oh" she replied..Well, I have tried church, but people judge me, and their mean, like that lady was". Ouch.... this really stung....had I ever been judgemental and hurt someone like that? I told this young lady, that the idea of being a christian, was to love other people with the love of Christ. God didn't send us here to be the judge of man, he sent us here to love souls so He could save them.... 

     I assured her that she would be welcome to come to service, and she would be loved and she wouldn't be judge for her appearance.. see, she had many piercings and some tattoos.. I told her God loves you just as you are, and he wants a relationship with you.... she hasn't come yet, but I left her with the info, and hopefully a better out look of what a "church lady" is....

     As I left the store, I began to think of myself, and my treatment of others. You never know when you encounter a person, what their situation is. Did that young girl pray that morning.".God, if your actually real, send someone to tell me?" . What if I would have been self absorbed and didn't share Gods love with her? Even worse, what if I would have judged her, and disregarded her feelings because I was miserable with myself like the other customer? What if that girl decided..there are no good people on this earth, God is not real, and ended her life? Extreme thought?... yes... it is, but we are living in extreme times...extreme hurt, extreme depression, extreme despair.... On my way home, I prayed..." God, please, do what ever you need to do to my heart..don't ever let me become like that woman. Please let me see other people through your love, help me to always be sensitive to those around me that are hurting, and in need of you.".

     I was thinking about the other woman, the church lady... what is her deal? Wonder what was going on in her life...I couldn't quite put my finger on it, but I knew that that was not the spirit I wanted...

It wasn't till this week that this scripture really popped out at me

Before destruction the heart of man is haughty, and before honour is humility.Prov 18:12

WOW! It was a haughty spirit.....that's what was going on with the lady at the store.."God, help me to never take on a haughty spirit".....with out God, I am nothing, with God I am still only a servant......

     After reading this chapter and referencing a few other verses( I recommend a study on this..very encouraging) I started thinking about a dear friend of mine...Camille....Camille and I have known each other for 15 years. Camille is that lady that you always want to be around. Camille is beautiful, great hair. She's got the beautiful house, perfect kids, great husband, educated, great cook, and just all around fun!....But that's, not what draws you to Camille. What draws a person to Camille is her spirit...regardless of your situation, how you feel about yourself, whether you are friend or stranger.....she has this ability, to make you feel important...do you know why? its because she has the spirit of Humility.....see Camille can encounter a person, and she might have a nicer house, or maybe her family has more stability, but she will always share Gods love....she will always relate how, she too has had situations that she's had to work through with God. She has put away from her a haughty spirit and taken on a spirit of humility.... WOW...you make her sound like a saint, you might be saying. Thats not my intent, I am pointing out that , through the love of Christ she has allowed herself to be used, just by being humble and showing kindness in the simple things... I want to be just like this... I want to be the lady who draw people to Christ through my spirit.... and I always want to be humble before God....

I want to leave you with one challenge today.... when you are out and about, find one person, that you can encourage. Let them see the love of Christ through your humility.... you never know their situation, you never know just what it took to get that person to that place where they are in your path today.... don't waste a oppertunity on a haughty spirit....

God Bless You,

J

     

 

My Perfect Princess.......Madison Malee

 Sugar and Spice and Everything Nice.....

This is what little girls are made of .... at least most girls are... Plenty of sweetness, with the right pinch of spice to keep you on your toes....or your knees.....lol

I'll never forget the day...."It's a Girl" our Dr said.. Daniel and Dan gave each other a high five. Dan was beaming, Daniel said "Mom, its gonna be a girl baby, an I gonna yub it, and kiss it". Total and complete happiness.....

My pregnancy with Maddie was perfect. Nothing unusual to report. Everything progressed normally. We prepared our nursery, shopped until the stores were practically empty, and just waited...

Dan was thrilled...I was a WRECK!!!!!!! What if I didn't know how to take care of a little girl? Everything is different...besides that, what if I didn't know when I was in labor???

See, things were different when Daniel was born...I was induced, I had an epidural at 3cm...I had no idea, what a contraction felt like.....Oh my word ! I was freaking out... I talked to everybody, getting their opinion, and oh my, did I ever get some opinions....I got one opinion, I wont name names,( her initials are T.H. and she lives in Texas, and she has some kids named Cody & Hannah)  but she said "you wanna know what contractions feel like?, okay I'll tell you, H- E- DOUBLE HOCKEY STICKS !!!!  Thats what ! " .

Yeah, I was pretty clear on the fate of my near future....ouch!

Well, the pregnancy progressed, the time approached, last appointment, Doc says "yeah, could be any day, but if not we'll induce on Monday... (gotta love my Dr. induces around the football schedule).

So Saturday morning, Dan leaves for work around 11:30 am...I am making the bed, just a quick stitch in my side..."hummmm".....pick up some shoes, another quick stitch.....hummmm.... 

I called my Mother, cause Mothers ALWAYS know best...."Call Dan immediately...you need to go to the hospital" I....

"What???? I am not ready, I have laundry, and I haven't packed, I am hungry"..... Well, I called Dan... Heres how the call went..."Good Morning, CCA, This is Lt. Martinez",  "Hello, this is Joy Godwin, my husband is on his way to work, could you send him home when he gets there?", "Is everything okay Mrs Godwin?", "Well, yes it's fine, I am in labor", "Oh, my God!, my wife was in labor once!, do you need an ambulance?", "No, I need you to calm down, and breath, are you alone in the control center?' "No ma'am, there are two of us", "Okay, I am gonna hang up now, just send my husband home okay?" "Yes ma'am"..........wheeeeeewwww.....men! 

Well, I really did have things to do...We got to the hospital in an hour or so, checked in, got the monitor, however, Dr wasn't there, out on an emergency.....

So the head L&D Nurse decides to "evaluate" the situation....." I'll be right back" she says, with that "Oh my word! smile plastered on her face, as she calmly runs from the room..... In the hall I hear her say "Get a Podiatrist, Ophthalmologist,  or a Psychiatrist.....anybody with MD after their name immediately......See apparently in Texas, an MD must be present when a baby is born...and a baby was gonna be born any second...

The nurse came back...."your contractions are ridiculously high, you must be in massive pain, and an epidural will slow your labor, so we are gonna do that right now, okay?"......hummm.....I really felt not much of nothing so far.....

Barely, got that epidural, when Maddie says, "No, I am not waiting...." 

To this day, I can still hear my Dr (the fill in) "skidding" literally skidding in flip flops, bathing suit top, and denim cut offs down the hall... someone helped her on with gloves and a coat.....and Maddie was born....

Welcome to the World

Madison Malee Godwin

June 28th, 1997

7lbs 5oz

19 in

She was gorgeous.....perfect in every way....dark brown hair, dark eyes, the pinkest cheeks and the perfect pouty mouth....The perfection of God's creation all bundled up in pink....

Dan was ecstatic, Daniel thrilled to be a big brother, and once again I was overwhelmed by Gods amazing grace on our family.. 

I couldn't help but think, she was mine for a moment, but her destiny is predetermined by God. I could care for her and love her, but ultimately, she belong to God, only mine on loan. I thought of all the things I would teach her, the special times we would share, and the memories we would make, but one day, she too would be a mommy and hold her own precious creation like I was now holding her. What a wonderful responsibility was birthed in me that day...I would be her closest example of what a Godly woman should be... could I pull it off?

Madison, like any other little girl, grew into a bouncing, giggling, little pink blur...She was her Daddy's Princess.. In fact, I distinctly recall a special treat that was given to sooth heart wrenching sobs, when a "really mean, smelly boy, who couldn't even read", told her "your not a real princess, or else you would live in a castle, and your dad wouldn't work!". She was devastated, and vowed never to return to Kindergarten again..

She's a Daddy's girl... he's the man in her life...don't get me wrong, they butt heads now and then, but she cherishes him and he her. Although, he taught her to ride a bike, tie her shoes and a mean left hook...the most important lesson he has taught her, is what a Godly man is... what traits to look for in her "Prince Charming"......when the time comes, until then..... Daddy has a gun!!!!....lol

I couldn't believe how time was flying... as if life was determined to shorten my time with her... before I knew it, I was sending my daughter off to Jr High, Senior Youth Camp, Youth Services....What is up with this aging thing????

There were trips to the mall for things like high heels and perfume.... what happened to Johnson & Johnson baby lotion?, that smells great! Phrases like "mom, I am gonna do my own hair for tonight" and " mom, I don't wear ruffles and bows", once again reminded me... she is growing up....

Maddie is a very talented girl... She reads music very well, she plays piano, clarinet, and violin. Madison actively participates in Praise and Worship, and loves singing.. She is a team player, and will be on just about any team.. She likes sports, games, acting, anything fun...she wants to be involved. Maddie is very strong minded. She is not very easily swayed, and is relentless in reaching her goals.... Maddie loves God and is very strong in her convictions, I am very proud of her.

My precious girl is a Freshman in HS now. I can't believe it. The last 14 years of her life, have unfolded like a whirlwind. Where has the time gone? I know that there are so many wonderful things in store for Maddie, and I am looking forward with anticipation to guiding her the rest of the way.....

Although its with bittersweet feelings, I am looking forward to teaching her to drive, and how to manage a check book. I am looking forward to setting Maddie up for college. I am looking forward to meeting the man of her dreams, the man that God is molding and developing for her even now, I am looking forward to wedding plans and phone calls of why doesn't this turn out, and how do I make this.....giggling girls and little cowboys.... I just want time to slow down... I want more time, more time to experience Gods wondrous power in her life, and to cherish my little bouncing, giggling, pink blur......

I love you Madison, You will always be my little girl

Mom