One Step at a Time

This weekend in church Pastor Tim Harlow asked us to identify a person who had an influence on our spiritual development.  My top two just happened to be sitting by me.  

1.  Teresa Earnest Brown -  I met Teresa Earnest in high school while working for her Dad at Hardees in Mt. Carmel, IL.  I also hung out with her older brother so I had the good fortune of dropping by her house every once in a while.  Lucky me.  It is an understatement to say i thought she was pretty.  Teresa’s family went to church and I quickly calculated that if I was going to have any hope of her parents letting me date her that it would be a smart move to attend church with her and her family.  Not exactly the purest of motives but the Lord works in mysterious ways.  Long story short, after going out for a few months and attending church,  God used this relationship to open my heart to the Love of Christ.  Teresa is the most unassuming person I know. She does not seek attention.  She never tried to argue me into the Kingdom.  She just quietly lived out her faith with me.  She stuck with me, forgave me, and loved me at times when I  am not sure I could have done the same if the shoe was on the other foot.  I was as lost as I could be when I met Teresa.  It honestly scares me to think of what my life would be like had we not stayed together.  And while it is Jesus who saved me, Teresa Earnest was the conduit of his grace in my life.  She still is.  I am forever grateful to her.     

2.  Kim Brown Goodson - My sister is 9 years older than me.  Because she was so much older she was as much a second mom as she was a sister.  I don’t remember the particulars of how she came to faith in Christ but I do remember the changes in her once she did.  One thing in particular I remember is watching her take  time to read her Bible in her room.  I even remember the Bible she used.  It was called, “The Way” and it had a bunch of long haired “hippies” on the cover.  Gotta love the 70’s!  I watched her attitude change.  Not that she ever had a bad attitude. I just noticed that she was more at ease because of God’s love in her life.  She even apologized  to me when she was bossy : )   I watched as she went off to bible college and grew in her faith.  I watched as she struggled at times but kept returning to God.  I watched as she faithfully waited for her husband and how they have worked to build a Godly family.  I watched as she cared for my Dad and comforted me and my Mom with his passing.  We haven’t had many deep theological discussions.  We haven’t had to.  Watching her live out her faith has been enough.  

So, who are you thankful for?  Who has played a significant role in your spiritual growth?  You may want to let them know.    And who are you influencing?