50 - Wow!

By Kay Heitsch

I left the lounge immediately after I shared my testimony that night. I was invited for refreshments, but I declined.

It was odd, but talking about Todd, his accident, and how God was bringing good out of it seemed to be helping me.

A few weeks later, I had another call from this same ladies' group. I learned that they were in charge of a sermon once a year and asked if I would be the speaker.

I suggested that Bill sing before I talked. They agreed, even though this service was supposed to be for only women.

I had never been in this church, so I didn't know how things were done.

That morning, I found out I had to walk down the middle aisle to the platform. I surprised people how fast I could make it up front. I heard some funny remarks later.

I didn't know what to expect. The church was full. Some men were bringing out folding chairs. They even ran out of bulletins.

Somewhere in my message, I expressed how God must have a sense of humor. Here I was, a woman who wouldn't sit in a pew, and now I was in the pulpit.

A woman came up to me and said, "You put the fear of God in me." She said she never wanted to be in the pulpit, so she planned on being in the pew.

If my memory is correct, Danyelle, our foster daughter, passed out some little cards I brought while we greeted people leaving the service. The cards read, What you are is God's gift to you. "What you become is your gift to God."

Bill's solo was a big hit! After the service, several people came up to Bill asking him to join their choir!

Bill did join their choir. Later, Shannon asked Bill to join the bell choir with her. He did. This was a good bonding experience for them.

Several months passed, and I was asked to help my friend, Ruth Ann, with the youth group at this church. I had many wonderful experiences being involved with the group.

Wow, God was working to help us heal from Todd's death and to bring many good things out of it.