Photo by Dan Gold (unsplash.com)
Maxine and Clara had been friends for over 40 years. They were introduced to each other by a mutual friend…Alice, who was also a client of Maxine’s. Clara had commented on how much she loved Alice’s hair one day, so she brought her into Maxine’s salon. And that’s when the friendship started. Maxine, Alice, Clara, and eventually Milly joined in to make a foursome. From then on, they would get together in the salon every week and talk-talk-talk! Their friendship grew deeper and deeper as the years went on, surviving arguments, gossip, misunderstandings, struggles, and distance. They were there for each other through marriages, divorces, births, and death…celebrating and consoling, crying with tears of joy, and tears of pain. Everyone knew of their strong bond to each other and often commented on their long surviving friendship.
Maxine was at a place in her life at 75, where she was content. Her three best friends were living in the same town as her, all close by, all retired and able to do things together. They all even went to the same church. Clara had invited her soon after they first met, but Maxine didn’t start going until after her divorce a couple of years later. That was a hard time for her. And if it wasn’t for her friends, it would have been unbearable. She became a follower of Christ soon after and began to heal.
That was 30 years ago. She never remarried and loved being single. She was a faithful member of their church and came every Sunday along with her friends to gather for worship. People sometimes asked her if she ever thought about getting married again.
“You kiddin’?” she’d reply.
“I’m not one to go jumping into relationships. To some people, it might seem like a good idea, but so was getting on the Titanic and look what happened there!”
It had been nearly a year since their new pastor had come. She liked Pastor Hart. Most everybody did. He seemed to be creating quite a stir in their church as well. Folks seemed to be excited a bit more, sharing more, taking God’s Word and discipleship more seriously. Clara certainly was. She even had a mentee. Donna was a sweet girl and was coming to church now along with her daughter Macey. Maxine wondered if she should start doing that too. If she should get a mentee…or, she thought, if not a mentee, just take on some responsibility of telling the next generation about what God has done. But then she would think, “Why would I sign up for something like that? Especially at my age? I’m fine with where I am.”
Well, summer was coming to an end, but the weather was still stifling. The four of them still met together, but the location would change with the seasons. When it was hot, they would meet at their favorite frozen yogurt place. Maxine, Alice and Milly were already there, but Clara was late.
And Clara was never late.
“Maybe she just got stuck in traffic,” said Alice.
“What traffic??” It’s 2:00 in the afternoon!” Maxine exclaimed.
“Not so loud Maxie!” Milly whispered as other customers glanced their way.
Maxine was just about to come back with a retort when the front door ding-a-linged and in rushed Clara looking sorry and excited all at the same time.
“Oh, girls I’m so sorry I’m late!” Clara cried.
“You know you scared us half to death!” said Alice.
“Don’t ever do that again!” said Milly.
“Well dang. If you’da come one minute later I was gonna have your yogurt,” said Maxine.
They all laughed and the tension was released. Clara sat after hugs were exchanged and she began to tell her story.
“Oh girls! I am so excited! I just have to tell you what happened!”
“As you know, Donna and I meet together regularly. Today we met together for lunch. I have been sharing with her for some time about the Lord and what He has done in my life…how He has changed me and all the wonderful things He has done. You know too that Donna started coming to church a few months ago. What a blessing!
“Well, at lunch today, Donna accepted Christ! Can you believe it?? Isn’t God amazing??!!”
Alice, Milly and Maxine were happy and amazed at the news. They all stood and shared hugs again and began talking in earnest, wanting to know every detail.
As Clara, Alice and Milly continued their excited chatter, Maxine grew quiet. She began to think back to what pastor Hart had said in his most recent sermon:
Because of who God is and because of His outpouring of grace and love toward us, there is no reason for us not to be all in! The overflow of our lives should bless God and make much of His name in our homes, in our friendships and in the workplace from now until eternity.
She remembered asking, why. Why would she sign up for something like that?
It was written all over Clara’s face.
She had been friends with Clara for a long time, and she hadn’t seen such joy, love, and hope on her face…ever. She was practically glowing! And she knew it was coming from within. From God within. Did God give her that? What was it about God that would produce such…overflow?
She knew the answer. She didn’t have to ask. It came to her like a crashing wave.
Because God is unsearchably great, full of grace, full of mercy, full of compassion, slow to anger, good to all, holds all things together, powerfully in control, righteous in all His ways, focused on His Kingdom…
Because God is worth our all!
God is worth my all, thought Maxine. Following God and being obedient are not options if I really want to do His will.
“God doesn’t tell you what He put you on Earth to do just so you can say, ‘Let me think about it’.” –Rick Warren
