110 Comments
User's avatar
Anne Arthur's avatar

The power of (church-)community!

That's how healthy lives should be lived. Among people with helping hands and compassionate hearts. Praise God for these women.

Expand full comment
MR's avatar

Not sure I believe all your tales, Sean, but I believe every word of this one- and it is such a beautiful story about what the church ladies did for you as you grieved such a loss. What wise women. We all could use some church ladies in our lives!

Expand full comment
Gloria Miller's avatar

Things are always better when we can get outside of ourselves and help others.

Expand full comment
Joann Thompson's avatar

Thank you for lifting up the memory of these wonderful women. There are still many out there trying to hold the world together both in and out of church. As a woman, I have been dismayed lately by the hateful rhetoric I hear from some quarters regarding women. Who do these people think gave birth to them, took care of them as children, and many times worked long hours to support or help support their families?

Expand full comment
Barbara Ashburn's avatar

Amen! I totally agree.

Expand full comment
Susie S's avatar

Yes, Joann,.....and we have HEARD, SEEN AND KNOW WHO DEGRADES WOMEN, DON'T WE!!!!!!!!!!!! ....... AND YET...........😫. GRRRRRR

Expand full comment
M Drake's avatar

Guilty as charged. And proud to be the hands and feet of God.🙌🏻✝️👶

Expand full comment
Jim's avatar
Nov 15Edited

These ladies were unlicensed psychiatrist but quite a bit better than most of the licensed ones.

Great understanding and wisdom from the church ladies.

Expand full comment
Judy Rogers Harris's avatar

This is gold. A small group of my friends and I teach a Bible study and try to minister to adolescent girls in Youth Services. We are known as “The Church Ladies” by the girls and the staff. 🌻

Expand full comment
Cheryl Brown's avatar

Babies have such magnificent power in their little hands. I'm glad that baby cast her spell on you Sean....

Expand full comment
Ernie in River City's avatar

Love me some church ladies. Thanks for honoring them ... and chiding them as they deserve. But there are ladies (and men) like them outside of the church. Loving folks who scoop up lost kids and love on them in just the right (and appropriate) ways. So the kids don't feel so lost. And the scoopers don't feel so lonely. It's a Godly pairing.

Expand full comment
Cynthia Russell's avatar

beautiful words!! thank you Ernie in River city!!

Expand full comment
Susie S's avatar

Ernie I agree with your part about the GOOD church people. HOWEVER, MANY HIGHER UPS HAVE BECOME KNOWN TO BE TRAITERS TO THEIR FAITH AND TO PARENTS WHOSE CHILDREN AND THE CHILDREN WHO HAVE BEEN ABUSED.

Expand full comment
Chasity Davis Ritter's avatar

Tonight I got the message that my store manager’s 18 year old son was in a head on car crash. They had taken him to OU medical center over 2 hours away. His parents (my boss) were on their way to his side, anxious, scared, no idea how their son was after getting the call from I assume the highway patrol who assisted the scene of the crash. They said there was nothing left of his car. Prayers started going out all over and God bless the church ladies who lit up the lines and started prayer chains which spread not only through town but across the state and even across the country within minutes it seemed. We have a mighty God and HE heard those prayers placing His hand upon the family and this young man. He’s not out of the woods completely but he is alive and he is still here and now they are continuing to pray for healing. For the doctors hands to be guided during the surgeries he will need going forward. And yes I bet a few of them will be arriving on their door step in the morning with casseroles or other things to aid the family at this time. I’m so thankful for the church ladies that are always there to be God’s feet and hands and shoulders on earth and their amazing all encompassing purses as well. 🙌

Expand full comment
Phillip H Saunders's avatar

Thanks for sharing that, Chastity. The young man now has even more folks praying for him. Prayer definitely works, and so do church ladies.

Expand full comment
Susie S's avatar

No way to know if prayer helps, but it certainly can't hurt.

Expand full comment
RRiveter's avatar

Every close-knit community has "church ladies", even if the community is not religiously based. I grew up in an ethnic enclave in Detroit where everyone knew my foreign-born grandparents, and they knew everyone. Many of the older ladies mothered us, scolded us, took care of us if our own moms were working or busy, treated us as their own when needed. They were the backbone of the community, and they were giants.

Expand full comment
Shirlea's avatar

Church ladies have always been angels in disguise and continue to be. God always knows what He’s doing.

Thank you, fav redhead, for the shout-out to church ladies. You are so loved!

Expand full comment
Jeanne Gaffney's avatar

My mama always had a peppermint, no, 1000 peppermints in her purse. She passed them out to anyone under 120 years old. But mostly to the little ones.

Expand full comment
Jim's avatar

Yes, and so did my grandmother.

Expand full comment
Ellouise's avatar

You were blessed. You were surrounded by life ve even when you didn’t know it. Thats why you can give us so much love now

Expand full comment
BJ Antilla's avatar

Very powerful memory, thanks for sharing

Expand full comment
Bert Lee Porter's avatar

Powerful stuff...love when you give it away. Comes back so strong.

Expand full comment