Seeds of Greatness
Column by Lady Catherine Beatty

Do you remember your first love, your first kiss and the excitement you felt? I’ll turn 65 in December and I can still remember, with a slight fading, my first love. I was sixteen and he was a few years older. He was in the military and the base was a two hour ride to my house by city bus. So we really didn’t see each other much. He was always on my mind and I made special preparations for him when I knew he was coming to see me. We dated for a few months then he received orders to California. When he left my heart was broken and I felt so alone. We corresponded for a while and that was that. I never saw or heard from him again.

Moving forward to 1980, I found myself a single mom with four children and having to work a full time job. My salary wasn’t sufficient to provide for my family, so I received food stamps and lived in subsidize housing. We moved into a three bedroom apartment on the other side of town away from family and friends, but close to work. While those years were very difficult times for the children and me, it was also one of the dearest times in the Lord.

"For thy Maker is thine husband; the LORD of hosts is his name; and thy Redeemer the Holy One of Israel; The God of the whole earth shall he be called" (Isaiah 54:5 KJV).

Jesus became my first love, my husband, and my provider. Unlike my first love at sixteen, Jesus never let me down. We spent many sweet times together. He helped me grow in faith as I learned to trust Him with my children and our life. He never broke my heart or caused me to be depressed. He was the one I turned to when I was lonely or hurting. For my Maker became my Husband, my Redeemer.

I would like to share with you how He ministered to me during those four years. It’s important that I bring this down to everyday life, in hopes that it will help you.

When I moved into the apartment I didn’t have any curtains. Even though the windows had blinds, I wanted curtains to give it that homey look. As I sat in my living room one day looking at the windows, I thought about what kind of curtains I would like. I never ask the Lord or told anyone what I wanted, I just thought about it. A few days later my oldest son came in with two paper bags full of household articles. He told me a lady down the street was moving and she just gave them to him. As I looked through the bags the first things I saw were my curtains. The EXACT type and color I was thinking about just a few days before. How sweet is my Lord!

My goal when I accepted food stamps was to get out of the welfare system as soon as possible. I had been on food stamps for about two years and it was time for me to renew my qualifications. As I sat in the office waiting for my name to be called, the Lord spoke to me. He said, "Who do you trust to take care of you, me or the government? Of course I spoke right up and said, "Why You, Lord." His reply was "Then get up and walk out and I’ll take care of you." Well, needless to say I was shocked and questioned myself if that was really God speaking. But, He spoke again and asked the same question. This time I didn’t answer as quickly as before, because I knew what He would say. I thought about it, swallowed hard a couple of times then answered Him as I had before. His reply was the same: "Get up and walk out and I’ll take care of you." Now, let’s be real here ladies. If you knew that the food stamps were the only source you had to feed your family, would you have walked out the first time He spoke? Well I was still growing in faith, because the Lord had to ask me three times before I obeyed. Then when I did get up and walked out, my heart was pounding and my knees were knocking; but I did obey. My family and I never went without and I always had enough to share with someone else. How good is our Lord!!

Twice during those four years I found myself without a car, but both times He provided for my need. Of course they weren’t new, but they were good cars. Canceling debt wasn’t something that He couldn’t or wouldn’t do for me either. I had a medical bill in the amount of $230.00 that I just couldn’t pay. One day the bookkeeper from the doctor’s office called and told me the doctor wanted to bless me and was canceling the debt. Praise God, He is so good!!

I could go on and on about His great love, but I need to bring this to a close. However, before I do let me share one more blessing. His love extends beyond what we can ask or think. His great mercies and grace are forever toward those who love and trust Him. God’s Word tells us that if we honor Him, He will give us our heart's desire. I always pray, "Your will be done" if I’m not sure of His will in a particular situation. So one day as I was spending time with the Lord, I just poured out my heart to Him. My desire was for a husband. Not just a husband but a good husband. Of course the Lord couldn’t and wouldn’t give me a bad husband. He can only give good gifts. I made out my list of things that I desired in a husband, prayed over it and continued to thank God for my good and perfect gift. Four years later my prayers were answered.

This is not the end to the story. My husband Rogers provided so well for me that over the years I left my first love. I looked to Rogers to meet all my needs, instead of Jesus. Then over time the closeness I had with my precious Lord began to fade. I continued to serve Him, pray, go to church, but He wasn’t my first love anymore. Our husbands are supposed to take care of us, but they are not to be our source. Our husbands can do the possible, but only the Lord can do the impossible. When the Lord revealed to me what had transpired, I repented and began renewing my closeness with the Lord Jesus. I believe it takes time to have a close relationship with the Lord or anyone else. But I know the time spent is well worth it. Not just to get our needs met, but to fall in love with the One person who loves us just as we are.

If you have left your first love, I encourage you to reunite yourself with Him. Perhaps He is lonely for your company.

As always ladies, make it a great day.

About the Author:  Lady Catherine has ministered to women for fifteen years. During this time she has been a guest speaker at woman’s conferences and churches. She was the founder of the Women of Distinction Organization, which helped women rise above the poverty level and find their purpose in life. Her company, Destination by Design is the Life Coach connection for women who desire to find balance in their personal and spiritual life. She is a wife, mother, grandmother and great grandmother. You may visit her web site at LadyCBeatty.48days.com, or email her at lcbeatty@bellsouth.net.