One Woman's Servant Spirit

Let this mind be in you,

which was also in Christ Jesus:...

But made himself of no reputation,

and took upon him the form

of a servant...

Philippians 2:5,7

I made up my mind prior to our move here to Tennessee almost two years ago, to make only two or three really close friends. I love everyone in our church and feel closer to some than others. I grew to dearly love our pastor's wife Brenda and then Jody came into my life. Diane and Lowell were two people I couldn't get away from, not that I wanted to. They took Brian and me under wing from our first day at church. Both of them had grown up in this area, and were married 47 years. A friend told me Diane was a cheerleader in high school here in Townsend and that came as no shock to me. Even now, she was always bubbly with an almost constant smile that could light up the church auditorium. Physically, she was short but stood head and shoulders above so many others when it came to heart.

When I write a blog, I don't like getting personal, spending time on one individual, but in this case, it's just different. Diane went to Heaven this last Saturday morning. It was so very sudden...an aneurism in the brain. For all I know, this ball of energy and enthusiasm had no major physical problems. It was so quick...so sudden...and from a human standpoint, so devastating. She and her hubby had gone to Georgia to finish up some work on a house there. Lowell returned home...alone.

We started our ladies Bible study last week. On the Sunday before, Diane told me to be sure to save her the materials from that first session so she could stay caught up and that she would probably be back for this weeks session. Diane dearly loved the Bible study group but that came as a result of her love for God's Word that she faithfully taught to children in Sunday school and the Wednesday evening children's program. When we finished one Bible study series, she would ask a day or two later, “When do we start the next study?” She loved the learning and teaching process that came because of her love for the Lord.

I don't believe we are to put people up on pedestals. It can be a very long fall from the top of one of those things. However, I do believe we are to learn from other seasoned Christians who have a testimony that is proven. The Bible tells us that younger women are to learn from older ones. In this case, the older woman (me) learned much from the younger (Diane) in this brief time we had together.

Proverbs 10:7a says: “The memory of the righteous is blessed...” If you were to look in my one Bible in particular, you would see a list in the margin next to that verse. There you would see listed 18 names, names of women who have gone on to Heaven, women I have loved, admired and learned from.

Grace encouraged me to write. She saw some small smearings of ability, I guess, in that area of my life.

Carolyn taught me what it was to be godly and a business professional all in one.

From Doris, I learned something about the sweetness of a meek and quiet spirit.

I could mention others on that list but won't; however....

today, I added Diane to that list.

I don't believe in living in the past. However, I don't mind revisiting this list. There should be a gratitude in all of us for those who have gone before us, who have taught us so much and who have contributed through their godly influence to whatever positive qualities there might be in us.

When thinking of Diane and her influence on me (and I'm sure others), one word popped into my mind right away....SERVANT. Many women in churches want to do the convenient and attractive things. A genuine servant doesn't mind cleaning the church bathrooms even when no one knows they are doing it. They are willing to jump in and do the unlovely that no one else wants to do. They are encouragers in the toughest of times.

When I had my bad fall in October into the church basement, I was taken right away to the emergency room. Pretty quickly I was taken to have an MRI done to check my head and neck. When wheeled back to my “cubicle” in the ER, there she stood...Diane. I was a bloody mess (pardon being graphic). She stood at my right side, holding my hand, helping the nurse clean me up, and patting my arm wherever she could find a place on it that wasn't torn up. Diane always had a smile, quick sense of humor and she was so loving and comforting that it can't be described. When I look back to that horrible day and evening, I think of Diane, one of God's servants willing to do the unlovely but it seemed to come as natural to her as breathing.  That evening, she was “Jesus with skin on.”

Every church dinner, of which we have many, found Diane in the kitchen. She could be found organizing the food tables, serving, doing the dishes and cleaning up the mess. Diane was my substitute pianist. It wasn't something she relished doing. She kept telling me that playing for a service wasn't her forte but she was willing to do that for me on the one Sunday I had to be away. With many emergencies that occurred in our church, Diane would be there or call to check on folks.

I love Philippians 2:5-8 as I view those verses as being about the clearest photograph in words about Jesus that we can find in Scripture. If we are to be like Jesus and having His mind, being a servant is going to be a part of that process. Among other things, the very Son of God came among us to serve. That has always been amazing to me...from Heaven to earth, to serve. Diane isn't the only servant I've come across in my lifetime. I am blessed to find myself in the presence of others right now. One of the highest honors we can receive is to bear the title of servant. Servants are servants because they love Jesus and because they want to be more like Him with every day. Diane never wanted attention for herself. Anything she did was for God's glory.

So, my thanks to Diane for the lessons she taught me when she didn't even know I was looking. There are women watching you and me all the time when we aren't aware of it.

I'm just one person who has learned and benefited from this dear servant of God. May her influence be multiplied many times over in those of us who remain.

Thank you Father for the influence of godly people in our lives. Thank you that they were teachable and that through their learning, I have benefited. I keep my eyes fixed on You knowing You are the ultimate Teacher. Thank you for Jesus...the ultimate Servant. Help me to have His mind. Amen.