Earlier I had shared about the time Mrs. Domingo (the woman in charge of the kids programs at my neighborhood library) and I had gotten to talk about our faith (Read that post here). Since that moment, we hadn’t gotten another opportunity to discuss such deep or confidential topics. This week, about thirty minutes into my time there, I found myself sitting alone in the locked craft room cutting out sombreros for a Cinco de Mayo craft. I was talking to God about the uncertainty overtaking my mind. “I’m not here to cut sombreros, I’m here to develop relationships with credibility in which I can share your love” I said. “This doesn’t seem to be as effective as I had hoped. God, please help me to figure out if this is an inroad I should continue down or cut off. Please…” The conversation paused as I responded to a knock on the door. It was Mrs. Domingo.
“Mami, I have something I want to ask you about” she said as she closed the door. Then, she proceeded to tell me about how she had been on the bus earlier that week and got to talking with another passenger. Within that conversation, the woman had shared her faith, and Mrs. Domingo explained that she was a Christian as well. However, the woman told Mrs. Domingo that there was no way she could be a Christian because if she was, she would be wearing a dress or long skirt, not jeans.
Mrs. Domingo began to ask, “What if this is true?” She expressed her anxiety to have a faith that pleased God. “I haven’t read the entire Bible or been a Christian for very long. The woman was older. I know that I have a relationship with Jesus, but am I not saved because I wear jeans? What do you think?”
As you can imagine, there were so many things going on in my head at that moment. First of all wasn’t I just talking to Jesus about how I was feeling inefficient with my time there? And then this happens? Secondly, this seemed to be a serious question for her and I’m about the same age as her oldest son and have had only one solid conversation about my faith with her. What made her choose to come to me with such a question? Was I even qualified to answer?
But I quickly left those thoughts as I found the Lord leading me into a response for her. We discussed her question in relation to what the Word says and got into an even deeper conversation about how each of us became Christ followers. There was laughter, tears, and a whole lot of joy in the room by the time the kids began to knock on the door for craft time to begin. It was beautiful. And, I got to gain a lot more insight into where Mrs. Domingo is with her faith, giving me guidance into how to pursue this relationship. Please continue to pray for her. Ask that God will give her unwavering faith, relieve her worries, and strengthen her understanding that she is His daughter.
“Mami, I have something I want to ask you about” she said as she closed the door. Then, she proceeded to tell me about how she had been on the bus earlier that week and got to talking with another passenger. Within that conversation, the woman had shared her faith, and Mrs. Domingo explained that she was a Christian as well. However, the woman told Mrs. Domingo that there was no way she could be a Christian because if she was, she would be wearing a dress or long skirt, not jeans.
Mrs. Domingo began to ask, “What if this is true?” She expressed her anxiety to have a faith that pleased God. “I haven’t read the entire Bible or been a Christian for very long. The woman was older. I know that I have a relationship with Jesus, but am I not saved because I wear jeans? What do you think?”
As you can imagine, there were so many things going on in my head at that moment. First of all wasn’t I just talking to Jesus about how I was feeling inefficient with my time there? And then this happens? Secondly, this seemed to be a serious question for her and I’m about the same age as her oldest son and have had only one solid conversation about my faith with her. What made her choose to come to me with such a question? Was I even qualified to answer?
But I quickly left those thoughts as I found the Lord leading me into a response for her. We discussed her question in relation to what the Word says and got into an even deeper conversation about how each of us became Christ followers. There was laughter, tears, and a whole lot of joy in the room by the time the kids began to knock on the door for craft time to begin. It was beautiful. And, I got to gain a lot more insight into where Mrs. Domingo is with her faith, giving me guidance into how to pursue this relationship. Please continue to pray for her. Ask that God will give her unwavering faith, relieve her worries, and strengthen her understanding that she is His daughter.
By: C.B. in New York City
Leave a Reply