When our kids are young, keeping them alive is all we can handle. Some days that’s even debatable. So when our church ladies’ committee asked me to be President, I initially said no.
“It’s only for one year! You’ll be great.” The committee persisted and my resolve weakened. Then it disappeared altogether and I became the new President of our women’s organization.
The Vice President, Meredith, invited me over for lunch, to make plans she said, for the upcoming year. Innocent enough I thought—and I couldn’t have been more wrong. Oh, the meal was pleasant—tuna sandwiches and fruit salad (staples of women’s lunches in the South). But then she began her speech.
“I’ve done some research on you. You’re young, and so are your children. And you’ve never held a position of leadership in our church. I’m questioning whether you’re the right person to be our president.” Meredith sighed.
“But there’s not much to be done about that, is there? The committee has already elected you.” Her smile stretched across her mouth like my grandmother’s clothesline. “You seem to have a teachable heart, so I guess we will just muddle through this year.”
My heart dropped to my stomach as I drank my tea. It tasted like dishwater after my dressing down. I managed a goodbye and slunk to my car. On the way home, I talked to God. “Lord, I never wanted this position, You know that. But I’d planned to make the best of the situation. Now I’m not sure I can do that. Why did Meredith start the year with that speech? Why did she have to list all the reasons I shouldn’t be President? And what exactly is a teachable heart, anyway? Does that empower this woman to point out every little thing I do wrong? Lord, I don’t think we’re off to a good start.”
Much as God encouraged me, my so-called teachable heart despaired. The year progressed much as expected, as I arrived five to ten minutes late for every officer meeting. My husband had a demanding job thirty minutes from home and couldn’t always get home. I was the only officer with the parenting issue, but they kindly voted to start the meeting fifteen minutes later. Even then I didn’t always make it.
Sometimes one child or the other would have an accident, an accident on me, or a meltdown because I was leaving. Every time I walked into the officer meeting, I could feel Meredith’s icy stare, confirming I was not the right person to be President.
Flash forward a year later and the committee voted Meredith President. I skipped to the last women’s program of the year with a song in my heart. Little did I know I was about to learn a lesson in forgiveness.
I brought the meeting to order and said a prayer for our women and our meeting. I was about to introduce our speaker when Meredith stood up. “Ladies, before we begin, I’d like to say a few words.”
As she made her way up to the front of the room my heart beat wildly. Was she going to announce that our meeting marked the end of an incompetent presidency? The next year would celebrate a President with stellar punctuality and well-behaved children?
Meredith addressed the women in our church with a tremble in her voice. “Ladies, I have a confession to make. I began this year with a grudge against our President. Because of her age and experience, I judged her incompetent. As the year progressed, I became convinced that she was unfit to be our President.”
The tears became sobs as Meredith struggled to voice her emotions. “My heart hardened against Jann each month. Until two months ago I couldn’t wait for this term to be over, and I could step in and make everything better. However, God had other plans. These last two months He has turned my life upside down. But He’s also changed my heart.”
There wasn’t a dry eye in the room as Meredith continued between her sobs. “My son divorced his wife a few months ago and received full custody of the kids. He moved from the East Coast to across the street from us. Of course, I’m thrilled Evan and the kids are so much closer, but I’m heartbroken over the circumstances.”
Meredith took a breath. “I’m retired, so I jumped right in, getting my two grandchildren ready for school and dropping them off, picking them up afterwards and helping with homework and chores. Evan’s job requires him to work late, so I’m chauffeuring the kids to their school activities and cooking dinner. Many nights I put them to bed.”
She smiled. “I’d forgotten something important—being a mom is hard! Timeliness and punctuality? What’s that?” We all chuckled.
“That went out the window pretty fast, as I’ve adjusted to getting three
people out the door instead of one.” Meredith fixed her eyes on me. “Can you ever forgive me? I’d completely forgotten how much it takes to be a mom! I judged you incompetent because you couldn’t measure up to my standards.” She laughed.
“Yeah, those standards are sitting in the corner under two piles of laundry.” We laughed
between our tears. She took my hand. “I hope you can find it in your heart to forgive me. Maybe we could even be friends?”
My heart melted and I pulled Meredith into a hug. I couldn’t even get the words out, but my embrace accepted the apology. I released my new friend and turned to the audience. “You can’t have a women’s meeting without some tears!”
Jann Franklin is a cozy mystery writer and guest author for this blog. For more of her writings and access to her books and more, check out her website at jannfranklin.com
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