A Friend that just “get’s it”
Posted: Sun Apr 26, 2020 2:31 am
I have been blessed in every church that I pastored, with the exception of one church, to have had a special lady in the church that really got what being a Christian is all about. These women were the one you could turn to for advice. The one that was always in your corner and had your back. Sunday’s, when she wasn’t there, just felt completely off in the service. In the first church it was Wilma and Wilma was like a mother to me and treated me like a son. the next one had so many problems there never was a woman or anyone in my corner. But the next church had Tami. Tami is just an amazing woman. She endured years of abuse from her husband who drank, smoked and had multiple affairs. But Tami hung in there praying for him and doing her best to be a Christian presence in her home for their kids and hopefully to reach her husband. Tami was my big sister that I could talk to about anything and if I needed help w/ anything she was right there. And I was right there for her as well.
One Saturday night I got a call from her drunken husband who pleaded w/ me to come over and take care of his family. He was drunk and had slapped the kids around, punched Tami in the face, threw objects across the room damaged walls and left the home in a shambles. I drove over to Tami’s, it was around 10:30 that night and checked on Tami to see if she was alright and if I should call the police. But she didn’t want me to, everyone was fine. So when I left I pulled into the “Crossroads Inn” that he was likely to be in there drinking. And I was right. I sat down w/ Wayde and talked to him there in the bar. Before long he started threatening me. The longer we talked the more he threatened. But God sent an angel to protect me. A giant man who must have been all of 6”5’ tall and weighing in at 250 or more shoved Wayde over in this booth and sat down and pointed his finger at him and said “you aren’t beating anyone up tonight, you are going to shut your mouth and listen to what this man of God has to say”
That was 30 years ago when I pastored that church. I think of this story when I think of Tami, because I know what she suffered. She didn’t believe in divorce or quitting. She took her marriage vows seriously. She endured this marriage for 42 years. Until last Saturday. They found Wayde dead in his semi truck in Huston Texas
Now here is the amazing part. I asked Tami this week what could I do for her at this time in her life, anything. This is what she said: “ I have had 7 friends in the last 2 years that have lost their husbands. They all are either bitter, grieving or angry w/ God. “. She said in tears : Please pray for me that I can handle this the way the Lord wants me to and so I can be a witness to those who have gone through the same loss that I am.”
Folks, I pray that every pastor is fortunate enough to have a Tami or Wilma, Barb or Melissa in their corner. A true life living saint that understands what God’s kingdom is all about and is there to help you do your part
Please pray w/ me that Tami will know how to handle the emotions, the grief, the loneliness and how to show the love of Christ to others through out her circle of friends please. Thank you.
One Saturday night I got a call from her drunken husband who pleaded w/ me to come over and take care of his family. He was drunk and had slapped the kids around, punched Tami in the face, threw objects across the room damaged walls and left the home in a shambles. I drove over to Tami’s, it was around 10:30 that night and checked on Tami to see if she was alright and if I should call the police. But she didn’t want me to, everyone was fine. So when I left I pulled into the “Crossroads Inn” that he was likely to be in there drinking. And I was right. I sat down w/ Wayde and talked to him there in the bar. Before long he started threatening me. The longer we talked the more he threatened. But God sent an angel to protect me. A giant man who must have been all of 6”5’ tall and weighing in at 250 or more shoved Wayde over in this booth and sat down and pointed his finger at him and said “you aren’t beating anyone up tonight, you are going to shut your mouth and listen to what this man of God has to say”
That was 30 years ago when I pastored that church. I think of this story when I think of Tami, because I know what she suffered. She didn’t believe in divorce or quitting. She took her marriage vows seriously. She endured this marriage for 42 years. Until last Saturday. They found Wayde dead in his semi truck in Huston Texas
Now here is the amazing part. I asked Tami this week what could I do for her at this time in her life, anything. This is what she said: “ I have had 7 friends in the last 2 years that have lost their husbands. They all are either bitter, grieving or angry w/ God. “. She said in tears : Please pray for me that I can handle this the way the Lord wants me to and so I can be a witness to those who have gone through the same loss that I am.”
Folks, I pray that every pastor is fortunate enough to have a Tami or Wilma, Barb or Melissa in their corner. A true life living saint that understands what God’s kingdom is all about and is there to help you do your part
Please pray w/ me that Tami will know how to handle the emotions, the grief, the loneliness and how to show the love of Christ to others through out her circle of friends please. Thank you.
