Have you ever gone on a trip, wandered through a town where friends from the past lived, called them up and instantly regretted your decision? I used to do that many years ago. My intent was to have a 15 minute phone call to kinda catch up and say "hi".

     Well, most often the conversation ended with enormous pressure to "come on over" which usually meant spending many hours, perhaps sleeping over, etc. Usually, we had a limited number of vacation days and wanted to explore, investigate, see, photograph, climb, get wet in - I believe you catch my drift! (g)

     Because I was unable to keep the visits to a few minutes or an hour or less, I pretty much abandoned contacting anyone I knew in any town through which I traveled.

     On a recent seven week concert (and grandkid hugging) trip, I did something I seldom do on a trip. I actually invited myself to stop by and visit with a few people with whom I’d developed a strong e-mail friendship.

     My first stop of this nature took me to southern Iowa. There I drove through plowed fields, fields waiting eagerly for the seed and fertilizer to be applied so that abundant corn crops could grow, mile upon mile.

     I arrived at a little town very similar to the Iowa town where I lived from age 10 to 18. It was small. All the buildings and homes in town huddled around the town square with the old courthouse.

     When I arrived at the little cafe on the town square where we’d agreed to meet, I called my friend. When I went in the cafe and asked if I could use their phone, she asked just who it was with whom I wanted to visit. When I gave her the name, she said, "Oh, that’s the sweet young lady who’s always talking about Jesus. She comes in here a couple of times a day sometimes." Wouldn’t you like that kind of comment to come from the lips of someone who knows you? Wow!!!

     Even though the town is small, my friend has a tremendous burden for her church and the unsaved and backslidden. She is wonderfully talented with artistic abilities. She makes crafts, murals, V.B.S. and S.S. out of leftovers. She can make a phenomenal number of paper flowers out of a package of napkins.

     As I learned more about where she came from, I was just amazed at what God does in the lives of those who will respond to Him. Here are a few bits and pieces of her story, from her own computer keyboard.

     "We lived on the south side of Chicago, very near the old stockyards that are gone now. Mom had various mental problems, but was actually a clever person. She had a bad temper, tended to lose things (like the money for groceries) or spend it on things for herself. She had no patience with children. Very limited cooking skills. When she bought TV dinners, it was a major event at our house.

     My Dad was a functioning alcoholic. He had drawing ability, sense of humor, and a bad temper. He was extremely thrifty, in charge of the finances, didn't talk much, and was loyal to his family. He kept the house "up" as in painting etc. He sat in the living room and drank beer every night. I believe both grandfathers left big families due to alcoholism.

     It wasn't too great at home because Mother didn't really like kids. There was verbal and some physical abuse.

     For first communion, I had a white dress/veil. I didn't go to the store, it turned up... may have been from my Father's sister - a hand me down. I was just pleasing my parents. It had no meaning to me. It was fun to get attention. People did come by to congratulate me and gave a few gifts, mostly money. Father kept the money.

     I left home in 1977 & lived on the streets until I got in the truck with _____, my current husband. We lived in the truck six months. He took us to bars a lot. We moved into a trailer for a while. Teenagers used to go around vandalizing homes at night, but they never bothered me. We really didn't have much to steal.

     We married at a courthouse Sept. 24, 1987. This was also the year I gave up drinking. I used to drink until I threw up most of the week, over and over. I was killing myself. God intervened. I do not drink now.

     I cried out to God and the only thing I felt I was to do was to read the Bible. Somehow I got one, but I can't remember how. I started in the Old Testament and my prayer was ‘what does this have to do with anything?’. However, I sensed that God was in that book and stayed with it. In 1995-96 I was somewhat out of my depression.

     Somewhere during this time, I felt the desire to buy a Baptist Hymnal on the internet. When I got it and didn't know any of the hymns, I couldn't figure out why I had wanted it. (GOD KNEW!)

     I started praying for people as they came into the store during this period of time. I didn't know why I was doing this. In 1998, I felt I ought to join a church, but I was so afraid that I stood outside a lot of them listening on Sunday mornings and asking God, is this the one?

     In 1999, August, the feeling was stronger still, and I knew I had to go inside the churches. I prayed for a tiny sign when I was in the one God wanted me at. The second church was the one God stopped me at. It wasn't a ‘tiny’ sign. :) It read ‘FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH’.

     When I was in the pew, and knew what happened to me, I wanted to see if there was a tongue of flame on my head like the apostles got, so I tried to casually snake my hand to the top of my head! I am pretty sure God laughed about that. Everyone else was just sitting in their pew, listening to the sermon. What a day, August 15, 1999.

     SO, there you have it. I left out details of abuse/neglect."

     Well, it’s PapaJ again. My friend shares with me regularly and I’m so astounded at the growth she’s making as a fairly new Believer. She pretty much just takes Jesus literally at His word and proceeds in a kind, tactful way to share Jesus and pray for those in her community. I’ve purposely not identified her.

     If you have a story to share with me (possibly with our readers), just hit my name in the lower corner of this page. Or, perhaps the Lord has given you some encouragement or insight for me and my friend. I’ll get back to you very soon.

"I ENJOY BEING A DADDY"...

- Let me tell you, we need to go through EVERYTHING TOGETHER!!!! And instead of problems pulling us apart (like they do ALL too often today) we should cleave to one another AND our Lord with all we've got in our heart and soul. .WONDERFUL story! I loved it, as always!

- Good article on Daddyhood. Since I was lacking in parenting, I am always very interested in stories like that!

- That was a good article on fatherhood. When I was the only parent my children had, I made it a point to let them know that they would ALWAYS have a father, the Father in Heaven is there for them all the time. He never fails them and if the earthly father will not help, He will.

- I just wanted to tell you what a good letter that was. My kids had a father, but never a Dad. It's a shame. They missed out on a lot of stuff they should have had. A mother can't take that place, especially in a boy's life. Well, they are grown up now. Some have turned out well and others not too good, I wish I could have been both. God Bless you.

- I appreciated the Daddy message very much. I thank God that my husband has been such a good father to his three, and such an outstanding "Poppa" in his place as stepfather to my son and daughter.

- I am not a father. So, I can't exactly compare, but do have some comments. As a mother, I have seen the days when my skills were below the basement!!

     There have been times when I drove my children away and put big walls between us. In the last few years, I have grown as a mother and grandmother so much that I can understand how you feel about your children and grandchildren. They are so very precious. I spend as much time and energy as I possiblly can on creating wonderful memories with my family. Do I have room for growth yet? Absolutely. God is not finished with me yet!

     I have found that my children have helped me grow probably more than I ever helped them. They are wonderful!! Our youngest and his dear wife have taken us on as a "project" it seems and have taught us much about living a happier, more fulfilled life. Both of our boys and their families are members of the same wonderful church family. Our youngest daughter lives an hour away and is also a Christian. Wish I could say the same for the other two, but time remains and we continue to pray for God to do a miracle work in their lives.

     Life without our children and grandchildren would be rather dull as seniors. The youngsters keep us alive and well!!!!!

     Thanks for sharing this wonderful insightful article with us.

- Thank you for sharing your experiences of "daddyhhod!" Your piece really touched me personally because I will be a father soon. My wife is due in September on the 10th. This will be our firstborn child as you know about our first experience. I just wanted to say "thank you" for sharing your wonderful experience about your children. I pray that with God's help I will be a Daddy who will make Him proud, and develop my child into an unique individual.

     Thank you again. It really spoke to my heart.