A dear friend

I'm leading the study tomorrow at my Bible Study. We're reading a book called Crazy Love by Francis Chan and the chapter I'm in 'charge of' of real life examples of people who are living completely for Christ. I've come up with an example from my own life to talk about and I thought I'd let my blog readers in on what I'm going to share tomorrow. Enjoy!

I met Mrs. Hohman on a hot July afternoon after mistakenly knocking on her neighbor’s door. I stood on her front porch with my mom, nervously waiting to meet the woman I planned on living with for my first year at Grove City.

I felt like I was towering over her short frame as she showed me the 3^rd floor and barked the rules of “no swearing, no smoking, no boys”. I handed over my rent check and moved to her house in late August.

September came and a fellow freshman had a mental breakdown and her bed was now available to me…… So, after 3 weeks of living with Mrs. Hohman I moved out. My dad drove up to help me lug my belongings from the third floor and told her that “I was different” and would come back to see her.

My visits were probably sporadic at first…but then, it became a Wednesday night habit of walking to her house after dinner. She was expecting to see me most night and we’d work on a puzzle…make rice-krispie treats…or eat an ice-cream sandwich on her front porch. I’d listen to the same stories of her childhood, came to understand her entire family tree, and struggled through “Clair de Lune” on her piano.

She was most excited when I got engaged. She was most sad when graduation day came around. I called occasionally, but it was not the same. When we visited the campus we’d always stop in to see her.

My dad called one day while I was at work to let me know that he’d driven by and her house was for sale. I frantically called, searched for her son on the internet, found an email … and found out that she had been in the hospital, they had found brain cancer and she was in hospice. I sent a card. The next week my mom read in the paper that she had passed away.

Why do I tell you this story of Mrs. Hohman? She is my example of a Christian woman who had an impact just going about her normal life. I was inspired by the people in this chapter, but Mrs. Hohman was an example from my life. She didn’t have a lot of money, but she gave with a joyful heart. She wasn’t in the greatest of health but made it to church on Sunday to worship. She raised her family to honor the Lord and her son is now a preacher. She spent her mornings in the chair next to her front door praying for a whole list of people and it comforted me while I was away from home to know that I was on the list. I miss her.

She is a reminder to me that I don’t need to move to Africa with Chloe strapped to my back and live in a hut to make a difference for Jesus. I can remind a friend that God is always listening, I can invite someone to MOMS, and I can get to know my neighbors. Maybe then, people will ask about the hope that is within me.