I know now that it was God who was drawing me near, but at the time, I was intrigued by this new laughter-filled friend and I wanted to meet more people like her. My motive wasn't really to meet Jesus there, it was to meet new friends!
As we gathered into the Methodist Church in Cody that day, there was a sweet red-headed lady teaching the class, and upon exploration, I realized that she was my dad's cousin Kathy Reed! Being from a large family, I had never even met Kathy before, but I had come into contact with her family through my work as an NICU nurse in Billings. Kathy's grandson Nicholas was a tiny one in our NICU for awhile, and a connection was made with his mom and dad almost by accident as I asked them if they knew any of my family members in Powell, (since they were farmers in Cody!). To our surprise, we realized that we were distant cousins! Coincidence? Again, as I look back, I can see the sweet serendipitous sovereignty of God who was orchestrating a part of His grand plan for my life. And as we know, He never orchestrates a plan just for one person's life without tendrils of purpose intertwining with the lives of others. That first day, in that first church, with that first sweet red-headed teaching leader, became the first step on the journey of my faith in Jesus. And not only did I find that I would make new and precious friends there, I found the greatest friend of all, Jesus Christ.
But I want to talk about my precious friend Kathy for a moment. Have you ever met someone and thought that they were too good to be true?! Well, that was my first impression of Kathy. From the very beginning, I knew there was something very special about her. At the time, I really never had studied the Bible before, and although I called myself a Christian, I really was guarded around Christians. I had never been ridiculed or "judged" by other Christians, but for some reason I always felt inferior to them. I saw them as a group of people that were a step above those of us who weren't really involved as Christians. They seemed to have it all together, while I seemed to struggle with always thinking that the things I did in my iife were not quite good enough. They seemed so sure of themselves and confident that they were doing everything right. Well, that was my perception! But Kathy, well she was different than all of the other Christians I had met. She had this quiet and gentle way about her that made her easy to approach. She had this humble way of relating to others and there was a warm glow that came from her spirit that drew me in. I found myself trusting her every word and I began to think that if that is what a real Christian acted like, I wanted to be one!
I think God knows that His children need to be met right where they are at when they begin their journey of faith.......even if it means that He must allow people like me to fall in love with Him through loving another person first. That is what happened in those first months of BSF as I listened to Kathy humbly deliver the lecture each week and introduce me to Jesus' love through her love. She spent extra time talking with me and answering my questions, and she always made me feel so special as she praised God for how He was growing my faith. I'm sure that I said some pretty juvenile things, but she always acted like it was something that was so profound! You see, Kathy met me where I was at too, and she took my hand and lovingly walked with me to see Jesus, beaming all the way with her warm smile and gracious words.
Over the years, 16 1/2 to be exact (!), Kathy has become very dear to me and a big part of my life. She has trusted God enough to invite me into leadership, and has mentored me in so many ways as I have sought to serve the Lord in BSF. She has become someone who I would trust my heart with, and has laughed and cried with me through many of life's circumstances. They say that followers of Jesus are connected in a unique and other-worldly way through His Holy Spirit, and I know that is true because so many times we reach out to one another through a phone call or text or email, because God prompts us just at the right time when we need each other most. He has blessed us with like-minds and hearts so that we can be there for one another and pray for one another, and grow close to Him together. I thank Him every single day, and sometimes several times a day(!) for His sweet gift of Kathy in my life. And although her roles are changing a bit as she steps down as BSF Teaching Leader, she will always be one of my most precious treasures. This life on earth is fleeting, and things are changing quickly, but one thing that we can count on for sure is that we will spend eternity praising God together, and I cannot think of ANYTHING better than that! I love you sweet Kathy!
Faithful
Servant
She
runs around ragged
she
searches high and low
she
knows there is something more
something
she does not yet know
He
knows she is searching
He
knows she is lost
So He
sends His precious servant
for
whom He paid the cost
His
servant's name is Kathy
she
is lit up with His light
He
calls her His beloved
and
He has made her right
She
warms the world with her smile
she
warms hearts with her love
She
lives in the image of Jesus
turning
hearts and minds above
He
sends her to the lost
His
servant obeys His call
and
with His wonderful grace
she
reaches out to all
The
lost one wanders
looking
for something real
and
suddenly up ahead
His
servant comes to heal
She
meets her in her broken place
stoops
down at her side
and
whispers words of His love
saying,
“there's no need to hide”
The
servant reaches out her hand
and
says, “Come and See!”
and
with trust the lost one goes with her
right
to the Tree
The
servant introduces Jesus
who
was once upon that Tree
which
was made into a Cross
to
set His people free
The
lost one now sees the Light
which
was once clouded with doubt
then
the servant does something
that
causes the heavens to shout
She
places the lost one's hand
into
His mighty grasp
and
says, “now walk with Him”
you
are found at last!
Well
Done, Good and Faithful Servant of God!
Kara
Althoff
May 6, 2016
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