She said, "I’m very close."
I saw Mrs. Jenny again last Saturday and last Monday (see “I think we’ve been adopted“). When I first met Mrs. Jenny, she told me, “I didn’t grow up with religion. I’m not an atheist, but I don’t know much about religion.” She’s told me that twice.
Monday, I took an early lunch and went to the nursing home where Mrs. Jenny lives and where some of my friends have “story time”. During “Story time”, they read a couple of chapters of the Bible, sing hymns that the residents request, and spend time touching and talking to each resident that comes to “story time”. When my friend reads Scripture, he often asks his boys and others to read certain parts. His oldest son read the parts where God speaks. Another son read Cain’s lines. A girl who was with them read for Eve. Me? He asked me to be the serpent… is he trying to say something?
After reading and singing, I went over to where Mrs. Jenny was sitting in her wheelchair. She had a bag in her lap, and I asked her about the bag. She showed me a painting she had made in her art class for our friends who do “story time”. She had painted a cross. This is where the conversation started:
Mrs. Jenny: (pointing to the cross) “I’m very close.”
Me: “Are you?”
Mrs. Jenny: “Yes.”
Me: “Would you like to talk about it sometime?”
Mrs. Jenny: “Yes. I have some questions. I can’t read well yet so I can’t read the Bible for myself.” (She’s having cataract surgery in a few days.)
Me: “Let’s plan to talk about it the next time I come to visit.”
Mrs. Jenny: “I would like that very much.” (Then she told me how precious my wife is. I agreed.)
So, God willing, my family will visit Mrs. Jenny again today. God has been working in her life. She has heard Scripture read. She has heard many hymns sung. She has seen and been the recipient of the love of Christ through many of his children. I think that God is drawing her to himself. I look forward to what God continues to do through her, and how he continues to teach me and mature me through her.
This is beautiful, Alan. Keep us posted on this story!
Blessings to you and your precious wife. 🙂
~Christy
Christy,
It is a beautiful story. I’m so amazed and grateful that God is allowing us to live it.
-Alan
And I pray she does!
Alan,
Thank you for being sensitive to the Holy Spirit, and the fact that He is the director of ceremonies.
Many times, in similar situations to that which you describe, pressure is applied to get a “decision”. Another conquest.
Lionel,
Thank you for praying.
Aussie John,
Not too long ago I would have been one to pressure her for a “decision” as well. But what about today? We let her talk and allowed her to ask questions when she was ready.
The great thing is that, today, instead of us “presenting the gospel”, most of our time talking was spent with her telling us how God had been drawing her to himself.
-Alan