Flo Jordan was one of those unique characters every church needs. When the doors opened she was there. When cleaning needed attentions she donned her old clothes and got it done. Flow even washed the stained glass windows of the sanctuary once a year.
More than her physical labor at the church, her spirituality was most appreciated. Everyone knew on Tuesday and Thursday precisely at noon Flo was at the church altar with a list. On the list were all the prayer requests mentioned during the concerns times the previous Sunday. Also on the list were people of the community she knew to be in need or whom she felt a need to pray for. Each name on the list would be uplifted in her petitions for several minutes. There was barely a person in the church who did not receive a birthday or anniversary card on the appropriate date. Nor were there any who had not received a letter of encouragement or praise from Flo.
Flo was a widow; her husband had been killed in a tragic accident twenty-five years earlier. While not wealthy, his insurance had allowed Flo to live not extravagantly but comfortably without having to hold down a job. She took this as a gift from God that had to be used in Christian service. And Flo distributed the benefit of her gift every day.
The parson sat on the sofa of Flo’s family room. She’d been dismissed from the hospital earlier that morning, after some fairly serious surgery.
“Now, Flo,” said the parson, “Janet Patterson has organized some of the folks in her Sunday School class. They’re going to be bringing you dinner every night for the next two weeks along with a light lunch for the next day that you can just warm up.”
“That’s not necessary, Parson,” countered Flo. “I’ve stocked up on some frozen dinners until I get back on my feet. So they don’t have to go to that trouble.”
“They want to go to that trouble, Flo.”
“I don’t think it will be necessary, Parson. But please let everyone know how much I appreciate them thinking about me.”
The parson sat back on the sofa a moment. He rubbed his brow, thinking. Then he replied, “Flo, do you remember that day I walked in on your Tuesday prayers and we talked in the kitchen afterwards?”
“I do, Parson,” said Flo. “That was quite a day.”
“Do you remember when I asked you why you did so much for others and not yourself you replied it was your Christian joy to do for others?”
“I remember that, Parson.”
“Why, Flo,” the parson asked, “would you deny that joy to others?”
Flo turned and looked out the window. When she turned back her eyes were a little watery. She smiled at the parson. “Do you know what they’re bringing tonight?”
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very sweet, thanks for sharing.
Posted by: Linda | December 15, 2009 at 02:56 PM