Refreshing
September 8, 2008 | T. Suzanne Eller
Joy* and her boyfriend are new Christians. Joy is a former addict, a mom who lost her children, and who just got her baby girl back a few weeks ago. She’s in her twenties or early thirties, I’m not sure because it’s hard to tell. Life hasn’t been good, not for a long time.
Joy and I became friends one day in a small group. She didn’t have her little girl then. Others were raising her while Joy went through rehabilitation for her addiction. Her boyfriend was in the picture, but still on drugs. Joy became a Christian, drawn to our church because lots of other women from the rehab attended each week.
I felt privileged to watch Joy’s growth as a believer, but also as a woman. We went through a series by Lisa Bevere titled “Fight Like a Girl” and she shared how it was the first time she ever realized she could “fight” for a good life and what was supposed to be hers.
It’s been a year now. The baby is home. Boyfriend went through rehab. They are both attending church. They are works in progress (just like you and me) and God is doing something real in them individually.
Last Sunday an older man sat beside Joy. He was shorter than she, tattooed up and down both arms, his hair in a ponytail. He shouted out a few times, “way to go”, or “bless you, son” as the preacher talked.
It was one of those services. The type where the alter is full. The worship is felt, as well as expressed. The service went a little longer because people streamed forward asking for help for their marriages, or to know Christ, as shared in the sermon.
Some would find a lot to criticize in this service. It was a little louder than some might like. It was “emotional” as people wept and asked God for help and guidance. It went too long; people might be hungry. It wasn’t perfectly in order as the older man interrupted the pastor or service to express his thoughts.
Afterward Joy introduced me to her dad.
“How are you?” I asked.
Tears welled up.
“I haven’t ever felt like this in church,” he said. “It was refreshing.”
I smiled. “So, do you think you’ll come back.” I pointed to Joy. “We sure love this woman. It’s been awesome to watch God impact her life.”
More tears. He shook his head. “I don’t live here,” he said. “But I plan to come back.”
Joy gave me a hug. Her boyfriend, too. Dad even gave me a two-handed handshake, holding on, saying the word “refreshing” again.
Sometimes I need to step back and see my faith through the eyes of someone who sees it fresh and new, who has watched his daughter transform from addict to mom and woman on a journey to wholeness. To see and sense the presence of God. To know that there’s a place where we can go and Someone we can trust when we don’t know how to find the way ourselves.
Refreshing. What a perfect word. Refresh me today, God. Let me see You and what You do with new eyes and a heart ready to receive and give what only You can do.
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Now that is a refreshing Monday read!
September 8th, 2008 at 2:16 pmAMEN!!! even though I’m reading on Tuesday, not Monday.
It makes me miss all of you
Sounds like a missed a good one.
God is sooo good!!
September 9th, 2008 at 11:03 amNothing like seeing a life transformed by God.
September 10th, 2008 at 11:43 am