Claire Hevel's Blog
Mrs. Goodwin / Jan 17, 09:47 AM
I first met Mrs. Goodwin during one of the first times I walked through my neighborhood here in Southwest. She was sitting outside with her grand-daughter. I was with Matt and Seth and we walked by without saying anything. I hesitated, turned my head, and said hello. I then continued the conversation by asking her where the local library was. Before I knew it I was talking to Carmen (her grand-daughter) about her home schooling and church. I don’t remember much from that first day. But since then Mrs. Goodwin has been consistent in my life.
I don’t go to Mrs. Goodwin’s house expecting to talk with her about everything that had happened to me during the week: how I feel about the kids at Cornerstone or what we have been cooking or how my family is – no, Mrs. Goodwin isn’t too interested in things like that. Somehow, just by the way she looks at you, you can tell that she is interested in more then just talk. She looks at how I am feeling about what I am saying and what is going on in my heart. She wants to know what I believe in. She wants to make sure that I am reading the word and am studying some kind of book or bible study. She wants to know about me, not the trivial things that happen in life, but me, as a person, as an individual – she wants to know what I have passion for, what I am insecure about, who I love and why I love them. She wants to know where my heart is and if my faith is completely in Jesus.
And let me tell you, Mrs. Goodwin does a lot more talking to me then I do talking to her. She wants me to know things. She wants to pour out her knowledge and love into my life. She wants me to know how to have peace and how to be completely content in the love that God has for me. Mrs. Goodwin wants me to know that, because of Christ, it is possible for people to love each other no matter what their skin color is. She wants me to know that the only way to get through struggles in life is to have a personal relationship with the Lord. She wants me to know how powerful He is and how sovereign His love is.
Mrs. Goodwin is pretty sick: she takes more medication then I can count. Carmen is home schooled so she can take care of her grandmother. A day does not go by when I am not in prayer for Mrs. Goodwin. Her health is deteriorating – her physical strength, mind, eyes, and body are slowly becoming less and less. But see, I tend to forget about those things. I forget how much physical pain she is in because Mrs. Goodwin’s heart is bigger then all of that. Her joy, peace, faith, and goodness are all that you see – everything else is placed beneath the shadow of her light that is love.
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Hi Claire! I’m back from my travels & am going to see Shane C. speak in Carmel this weekend… random. I wanted to call you up to come with me… but its kind of a long commute for you :) Anyhow, I miss you and can’t wait to see you again!
By Amanda Ruhl / Apr 9, 01:54 PM / #