Friday, May 06, 2005

The Church Lady

The shrill, schreeching of the phone startled the little Church Lady. She was so engrossed with planning her up-coming meeting she really hesitated to even answer the phone.
"Hello" she said in a curt voice.
"Mom, I am so glad I caught you. I have to work over today, could you please watch the girls for me?" It was her daughter, Darlene asking another favor.
"Now, you know I have my Ladies Tea at church today and I just can't do it." Was the Church Ladies quick reply.
"Mom it would really help me out. We are behind on some bills and the overtime is such a blessing." Darlene responded in a weak, tired voice.
" Well if you would have come to church with me like I asked, you wouldn't be in this mess. I really need to hurry, I hope you can find someone. Tell the girls 'Granny loves them', I have to go now, Bye!" And the Church lady quickly hung up the phone without giving her daughter a chance to respond.
Out the door she rushed, she was never late. It would just not look right for the co-chair of the ladies tea to be late. " I shouldn't have answered the phone," she thought with annoyance.
As she hurried down the street reviewing in her head what the topic of the social would be today, she almost ran right into Leroy.
"Hi'ya, Miss Church Lady." He cried out in his tiny, excited, little boy voice.
"Hello, Leroy," she called out as she tried to hurry past him.
"Miss Church Lady, can I rake your leaves today? You said I could and I really could use the money. Tomorrow is Momma's birthday and I want to get her something special." Leroy waited with anticipation for the Church Lady's reply. Already in his mind he was picking out his beloved Momma's birthday present.
"No Leroy, not today, you know I have a meeting at the church. Now run along, I am in hurry," was the Church Lady's curt reply.
Leroy turned to leave, hot tears burning in his eyes. " What good is a stupid ole' church meeting anyhow" he thought angrily.
The Church lady was ecstatic after her Ladies Tea. It always lifted her spirits, being around all of the of the other saints of the church. She had been nominated to head up the bake sale to raise money for the orphanage in China. She was going to bring her famous chocolate chip cookies. She just knew they would be the top seller. She rushed home to get her grocery list together, she wanted to get to baking her cookies right away. Doing work for the church just made her feel buoyant with joy.
At the grocery, the Church Lady made the mistake of getting in line behind a young mother with two small children. The babies were crying and to make matters worse, she didn't have enough money for all of her groceries. As the distraught, young mother made the painstaking decision of which items she would have to do without, the Church lady thought smugly, " Well, I am so glad I have my finances in order. You would never catch me in such a predicament. The good Lord takes care of me because I am always quick to give to those in need. I always send money to the orphans and contribute to the building fund."
That night as the Church lady curled up in her favorite chair, she reflected on her day. Her heart was warm with knowing how much she had accomplished for her Lord today. She would sleep well knowing all was right in her heart. Sweet Dreams, Church Lady.

2 comments:

AmyJo said...

Tracy, I don't want to sound like I'm copying other people's past comments, but you could be writing a book. Girl, you have a real creative talent going on here. As easily as you write these on a blog, you could save them on WORD, and submit them to a publisher. Go for it, girl. Talk about talent!

Lisa said...

AMEN!!!!! These stories are incredible. God has really blessed you with a talent.