Friday, Jan. 06 2012 8:06AM
Her name was Mrs. Norma
By Mike Evans, guest columnist
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ReprintHer name was Norma Monday, and I will never forget her.
There weren’t a ton of people around who paid much attention to this skinny, shy, unathletic, 12-year-old kid. Except for Norma. She was a senior citizen in the church my mom and brother attended, and an act of kindness she demonstrated to me marked my life and charted a course I am still on.
Mrs. Norma was the kind of lady who never met a stranger – friendly, outgoing, observant. She just shined wherever she went. For some reason she took a liking to me, and we became unlikely friends. I remember when I was a pre-teen, just figuring out who I was, getting started in my newfound faith, Norma asked me what my favorite book in the Bible was. I had no idea how to respond. I remembered the preacher had spoken out of the book of Luke and told us the story of the Good Samaritan. I loved that story, so I told her that I liked the book of Luke the most.
The next week Mrs. Norma asked me to go to Dairy Queen with her. She knew by this time that the way to my heart was through a medium chocolate dipped cone, so I agreed.
After we enjoyed our treats, she reached into her bag and pulled out a blue paperback book called “The Gospel of Luke” by a preacher named William Barclay. I’d never been given a book like this before and didn’t know how to respond. But I’ll never forget Mrs. Norma’s words to me after she gave me this gift:
“Young man, one day you will be a preacher. And good preachers need tools to help them prepare their sermons. Since you told me Luke is your favorite book in the Bible, well, let this be the first book in your library.”
I have used that book and many like it for 30 years to teach and help people discover that God loves them and has a plan for their lives.
This new year, I ask you not to make any huge goals you know you won’t fulfill. Rather, why don’t you find someone who you can empower, someone you can serve, love, help. One person. Make a difference in someone’s life this year. Your encouragement of someone else could alter the trajectory of their life.
Mike Evans is pastor of Discover Church.
