An Introduction...

Once upon a time there was a little girl who lived in the country.  They called her girlie because she was the youngest of four girls and her name could not be kept straight in the mind of a dedicated; but busy mom.  Girlie’s dad worked a lot, it seemed.  Sometimes on Saturday morning she got to go to the shop with him and play around in the stacks of tires before they went home to do the outside chores.  She was, as they said, “Her father’s only boy” and she liked it that way.

She was a sweet girl, if a bit strong willed.  She had a sparkle in her blue eyes that said she was likely to speak quicker than her brain could think; but she was loved.  Her parents were devoted to her and her sisters.  They were also devoted to the church they went to every time the doors were open.  Girlie learned to sing with her sisters when she was just big enough to stand next to the piano, with her eyes fixed on her Daddy ushering in the back of the room.

Girlie was a dreamer… most free moments were spent with bare feet inside her cowboy boots, on the back of her horse.  On horseback alone or with a sister, she was anything she could imagine – a messenger for the confederates during the civil war, a heroine of the wild west chasing cattle rustlers, or a genteel lady on an errand of mercy.

When Girlie was six years old, she went to Bible Camp for the first time and she was scared!  Girlie practiced her courage and bravery to spend that one night away from home because her best friend was going to be there too… everything is better with a trusted friend.  As expected, Girlie LOVED being at Camp and her parents were generous enough to send her back every summer.

When she was eight years old, Girlie went with her family to a revival meeting at the church.  The man who came to speak was loud and a little bit scary!  Still, he preached truth and since Girlie was definitely afraid of going to hell, and sure she wanted to do the right thing, she prayed after that service and gave her heart to Jesus.

Girlie grew like a weed, dreamed big, and felt ready to handle anything.  She was stubborn and unconcerned with the opinions of others.  Like the boys at school who told her that her cowboy boots looked stupid and she said she thought maybe they weren’t looking closely enough.  Did they want an up close encounter with her boots? (and her attitude! Oh, my!)

One summer, Girlie was at camp and she noticed a boy.  He was an older boy, and he was smart!  He was handsome and well known, and seemed very much in charge.  As girls who are 12 years old will so easily do, Girlie quickly developed a huge crush on the Boy.  The only problem with the situation is that Boy didn’t see Girlie.  He was the sort to be at Camp all summer, and she had just 6 days to make a lasting impression on him.  In her 12^th year, it was too early and God did not bring Girlie to Boy’s attention.

Girlie was, unfortunately, a bit too interested in boys as a teenager, and although her heart was drawn to this Boy each summer when they crossed paths, she was fickle and her crushing heart too easily – though briefly – alighted on other boys as her world got bigger.

When Girlie was 13, her world was torn, when her parents divorced.  Later in life, Girlie would look back with great understanding for both of her hurting parents; but as a teenager all she wanted to know was if it had been her fault?  Did she fight with her sister too much?  Did she fight with her mom too much?  Was she not helpful enough around the house? 

Over the next few years, there were hours spent asking deep questions of life that were brought to mind earlier than might usually be the case… Did marriages really fall apart?  Did she really even WANT to know the full truth of the situation?  Where was God when her heart was breaking?  

When Girlie was 16, she worked at a restaurant in town.  She loved taking care of her regular customers and the adrenaline rush of the dinner hour. That year, Girlie went to camp for just one weekend.  To her great joy the Boy was there and this time, he knew who she was.

The boy was reading deeply thoughtful and complicated books and Girlie liked to read out loud to him, even though she was confused most of the time.  The Boy was at camp all summer that year, and it seemed they shared a mutual interest in one another; but the weekend came to an end. Girlie went back to her life and the Boy went back to his life, and time moved on.

One year later, God graciously arranged circumstances such that Girlie and the Boy were at camp together.  There were water fights, early morning devotions, cabin contests, and great affection.  By the end of that summer, they were in love and Girlie was sure she would follow this Boy wherever God took them.

Somewhere along the way, Girlie became a grown up.  It snuck up on her in a way many of us can relate to.  Girlie married her beloved Boy and became the Mama to three babies. God loved Girlie more than she knew, and through the years He patiently led her into sweet relationship with Him.

Girlie’s life was not easy, and it was not safe; but it was so very good.  God was faithful and relentless in His desire to make the Girlie like Himself.   God had answers to all those hard questions Girlie asked as a young lady, and answers to the hard questions that would come up as she lived closer and closer to heaven…

What good thing was God teaching her through suffering?  Would she see her children grow?  Would she ever wrestle that one particular sin to the ground?  Would she be the sort of wife God had intended to give to the Boy?  Would she do more harm than good in parenting the babies?  How firmly did she believe in the resurrection power of Jesus as shouted to her all those years ago in a revival hall?  Was she prepared to obey God even if it broke her heart?

Girlie wasn’t always just “girlie”.  She was a bondservant of Christ.  She was wife, mother, missionary, cancer fighter, friend, singer, sister, auntie, and worshiper.   Over time, God shaped, pruned, and polished Girlie’s rough edges until everyone could see the woman He created and whom He knew was there all along.   

Girlie grew old with her Boy and they served their Beautiful Savior with every drop of their strength until He said it was time for them to come home.  

Obviously I'm the Girlie and he's the Boy.  And of course there is so much more that could be written to fill this story in, and maybe some day I'll get to it.

The Boy is a pastor now, living a sold-out, poured-out life of faith.  I am still his girl, and that makes me a pastor's wife.  I have alot of thoughts about what that means.  I'm learning alot and seeing alot and thinking alot.  

A friend recently described this process as having been given " a new size of shoe"...  and she suggested that I write about it.  I think I will give it a try.