How the Obedience of Another Child Changed the Rest of My Life
What does a garbage can lid and gratitude have in common? Well, probably not much to most people, but to me, it brings back a memory from my childhood that forever changed my life. It fills me with gratitude to this day.
One not-so-small act of obedience
For whatever reason, on that sunny day at the age of four, I had the garbage can lid in my hand when my friend, Diane Turner, crossed the street to invite me to church. I remember how excited I was, waving the lid recklessly in the air.
Now, why gratitude? This very minor step in Diane’s life became a major one in mine. I continued to go to church, and eight months later, my mother and sister followed. We remained in that church until it closed its doors some 60 years later. I will forever be grateful to Diane who followed the Lord’s leading to bring a small child to the presence of God.
The presence of God? We all know church is not how we are saved, but if you have a church like Westwood Bible, the presence of God was prevalent because it was led by Dr. Jack Dark. I learn even more about gratitude as my thoughts linger over those years of basking in God’s Word. How wonderful to have such a great place to grow in the Lord.
Her name matched her heart
I am reminded of another very important memory of gratitude. One of the most wonderful mentors in my life attended Westwood, Mrs. Love. She was never into fashion, always simply dressed. I only remember her with a loosely coifed bun with stray hair she was always brushing back into place. She was too busy with the Lord’s work to bother. None of us cared because we knew she loved us. How fitting her name matches her heart for Jesus Christ and her love for children.
She was diligent in the Lord’s work to bring every child to Jesus Christ. I was one of those special children. One day in the Good News Club, Mrs. Love led me to accept Jesus Christ as my Savior. At the age of seven, my life changed. I became a child of God.
She continued to mentor, encouraging me to memorize God’s Word, introducing me to the Bible Memory Association. I stayed with the plan into adulthood. How grateful I am to Mrs. Love for all she gave me.
There were so many gifted and loving teachers at Westwood. Our pastor, Dr. Dark, could take the complexity of God’s Word and make it simple to those listening. His love for God’s Word showered us with many blessings.
The gratitude to my friends at Westwood, their leading and testimonies will be with me forever. The One to Whom I owe everything has been in the background of this writing, quietly and profoundly slipping through the words. Everyone I mentioned was following God’s direction to bring others to Jesus. My heart is full of gratitude to my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ who set the path for me through the act of another child’s obedience.
Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift!
2 Corinthians 9:15 NIV
Meet Jackie Stubblefield
Jackie writes at From Loss to Hope by God’s Word, where she seeks to encourage women who are going through tough times to find hope and strength in Jesus.
Where to find her . . .
Begin Within is a series to inspire a year-round lifestyle of gratitude that will impact not only your own life, but the lives of your neighbors as well. Gratitude is a theme we talk about often around here because it ties so closely into other missional living rhythms. Practicing gratitude reminds to keep our hearts soft and expectant and our eyes open. Therefore, the more we embrace gratitude, the easier it becomes to truly see our neighbors and where we can join what God is already doing in our neighborhoods.
If you would like to contribute to Begin Within, you can find the submission guidelines here.
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If you would like to cultivate rhythms in addition to gratitude that will empower you live on mission in your neighborhood, check out Cultivating a Missional Life: A 30-Day Devotional to Gently Help You Open Your Heart, Home, and Life to Your Neighbors. This small book will help you make a big impact in your neighborhood as you learn to let missional living flow from the inside out. Get the 30-day missional living challenge free when you purchase the book.
