| Nov 2, 2005 |
| 11/2/05, 4:00 PM, 1,821 Words |
Dianne Roberts sat in her 1625 square foot, three bedroom, 2 and half bathroom townhouse that she had recently paid off. She felt good about her accomplishment, especially since her ex-boyfriend told her that she would never be able to do it. Dianne smiled as she finished dusting her Northern Lights square cocktail table. She had cleaned her whole house, so there was not much left to do. She sat down on her black leather sectional sofa. Her let her hands run across the leather to feel its texture. Anyone that did not know her would have thought that she was being materialistic, but she was not. She was just basking in her accomplishments. According to her ex-boyfriend, Alstyne Murphy Dunn, she was supposed to fall flat on her face without him. The day that Dianne left him, March 4, 2000, Alstyne proclaimed, “You’ll be back. You ain’t nothing but a stripper and without me, you ain’t @#$*!” Dianne smiled as she walked off without saying a word.
Dianne was very well adjusted considering her childhood and life. Her mother went to jail when Dianne was five years-old. Dianne’s mother had killed her father. He was abusive to her mother. He had started beating on Dianne. Dianne’s mother killed him before he could begin to beat her baby like he had beaten her. Dianne didn’t know her mother all that well. She had only visited her mother 3 times at the jail. The last time Dianne saw her mother; her mother told her, “Do not come down here anymore. I am not your mother and I do not exist. Forget about me.” Dianne cried all the way home. When she got home and told Alstyne what her mother had told her. Alstyne retorted, “Good riddance to the #$%*&. I hope you do not try to kill me like she did your father. Women are so stupid.” It was at that moment that Dianne made up her mine that she would get away from Alstyne. It was 8 months later before she left him, but she left him.
Dianne looked at the Bible sitting on the end table next to the couch. She never thought that she would have a Bible, much less be a Christian. She had been saved for one year and two months. She felt good about it, too. She met Dr. Denise Adkins-Garnett in a lingerie shop on June 2, 2001. Dianne thought it was funny watching the bashful woman shop for lingerie, so she decided to go help the woman out.
“Hello Mame. You seem lost in here. J.C. Penny is down the hall.”
“I guess it is obvious that I have never been in a place like this before.”
“Yes, Mame it is. I come in here all the time. What are you buying lingerie for?”
“My husband and I have a romantic weekend planned and I wanted to get something special for the occasion.”
“Do you want something nice, simple, and sexy or something that will make his eyes pop out of his head?”
Dr. Adkins-Garnett turned bright red.
Dianne laughed, “Sorry, I didn’t mean to make you uncomfortable. Why do not you just try a simple black nightie? That should work for you.” Dianne motioned towards the counter, “Stacy, come help her out.” Dianne turned towards Dr. Adkins-Garnett, “Hope your husband likes it.”
Dianne was standing outside talking to Anne, one of the cashiers from the store when Dr. Adkins-Garnett walked out of the store. Dianne waved by to Anne before she looked at Dr. Adkins-Garnett. Dianne said, “You should be okay now that you are in the fresh air.” Dr. Adkins-Garnett smiled, “Yes, I do feel better. What’s your name?” Dianne responded, “Dianne Roberts.” Dr. Adkins-Garnett held her hand out to shake Dianne’s hand, “I am Dr. Denise Adkins-Garnett. Who do you buy lingerie for?” Dianne stared at the obtrusive woman. It wasn’t any of the old bitty’s business, but Dianne felt compelled to respond, “No one. My ex used to have me buy it all the time when I was with him. Now it is just a habit that I have.” Dr. Adkins-Garnett smiled, “Do you mind if I treat you to lunch?” Dianne didn’t have anything to do, but she didn’t know what that woman had in mind so she responded, “It’s ok. I’m kind of busy today.” Dr. Adkins-Garnett smiled, “Too busy for a free lunch. That’s odd, but if you say so. I just thought I would offer.” Dianne stared at the woman. She was trying to figure her out. Before Dianne knew what had happened she said, “Ok. I will go. I can do what I have to do later.” Dianne was stunned. What had she just said? She didn’t want to go to lunch with that nosey woman. Dr. Adkins-Garnett was walking towards a café that was near by before Dianne could weasel out of the lunch date. That lunch led to Dianne accepting Christ right at the table.
Thoughts of Dr. Adkins-Garnett brought tears to Dianne’s eyes; no one had ever shown love to Dianne like Dr. Adkins-Garnett. Dr. Adkins-Garnett treated Dianne as if she was her child. That made Dianne feel special. Dr. Adkins-Garnett had been trying to get Dianne to come to church for awhile, but Dianne had resisted. She was not sure that she was ready to be around that many Christians. What if they found out that Dianne was once a stripper? What would they think of her? Surely, the good church people would throw her out of the church before she sat down good. Dr. Adkins-Garnett kept telling Dianne that her past didn’t matter and that God had forgotten about her past sins. Dianne knew that he hadn’t. All of the men that she had shaken her naked body in front of; God couldn’t have forgotten about all of them. It was probably going to take years for Him to forget about all of her sins. Dr. Adkins-Garnett looked like she had been saved all of her life, so what did she know about Dianne’s life.
Dr. Adkins-Garnett did convince Dianne to come to the meetings at her ministry, By Example Ministries. Dianne was assigned a mentor, Monica Caldwell. Dianne was the oldest girl in the classes; being at least ten ears older than the oldest girl in the classes, but Dr. Adkins-Garnett made her feel comfortable in the classes by saying that Dianne was observing the classes to see what she could learn from the ministry. Dianne thought that was nice of Dr. Adkins-Garnett. Monica Caldwell had been a blessing to Dianne. Sis. Caldwell was a bit pushy, but she was sweet and she acted as if she was genuinely concerned about Dianne.
When it was time for the girls in the class to declare what there Ultimate Commitment was to be, Dr. Adkins-Garnett made Dianne make a commitment as well. Dr. Adkins-Garnett called Dianne into her office, “I want you to make an Ultimate Commitment.” Dianne frowned, “I think I am much too old to make commitments like those girls.” Dr. Adkins-Garnett smiled, “You can make a commitment that someone your age would do.” Dianne’s frown deepened, “Such as.” Dr. Adkins-Garnett smiled, “Perhaps you could commit to smiling twice each day for the whole year.” Dianne smile quickly, “What else would you suggest?” Dr. Adkins-Garnett nodded, “How about reading the Bible in a year?” Dianne scowled, “I do not know to read the Bible and I probably won’t understand it anyway.” Dr. Adkins-Garnett reached for her Bible, “I didn’t say understand it, I said read it. You can even have my Bible. It is easy to read and it has notes in it that will help you.” Dianne reached for the Bible as Dr. Adkins-Garnett handed it to her, “I cannot take your Bible. I can get my own.” Dr. Adkins-Garnett smiled, “Girl, I am a preacher. I have plenty of Bibles. Plus, if you have that one, I know you will read it because you do not want to let me down.” Dianne smiled quickly again, “Thanks. How do I go about reading the Bible in a year?” Dr. Adkins-Garnett pressed a button on the phone, “Charlotte, find Mother Frazier for me,” Dr. Adkins-Garnett looked at Dianne and continued, “Mother Frazier can help you. She has read the Bible in a year several times. You will like her.”
Dianne scowled. How many more women would she have to meet at this place? Dianne responded, “What’s up with you? You are so helpful. The people here are so helpful. What’s you all angle? I do not get you all.” Dr. Adkins-Garnett smiled, “It is the love of God that makes us want to help each other. I am sure that you are used to people doing what they do because it benefits them. We do not have an angle. We like serving others. Plus, God has commanded us to help each other. Let me see your Bible.” Dianne handed Dr. Adkins-Garnett the Bible. Dr. Adkins-Garnett flipped the pages before stopping. She moved the Bible close to Dianne, “In Titus 2, verses 3-5, it reads… ‘The aged women likewise, that they be in behavior as becometh holiness, not false accusers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things; That they may teach the young women to be sober, to love their husbands, to love their children, To be discreet, chaste, keepers at home, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God be not blasphemed.’ So, we old ladies have a charge to teach younger women how to be good women. We do it because we love the Lord, not for any other reason.” Dianne looked over the verses again, “How do you all know what a good woman is?” Dr. Adkins-Garnett grabbed the Bible and flipped the pages some more before stopping, “The Bible tells us in Proverbs 31. Here’s my favorite part… ‘She openeth her mouth with wisdom; and in her tongue is the law of kindness. She looketh well to the ways of her household, and eateth not the bread of idleness. Her children arise up, and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praiseth her. Many daughters have done virtuously, but thou excellest them all.’ It is not about how you look or what you where, but it is about what your family says about you. If they can say nice things about you, then you are a good woman.” Dr. Adkins-Garnett and Dianne could not finish their conversation because Mother Frazier walked in the room happy and praising God. Dianne liked the old lady, the moment that she walked in the room.
Dianne wiped the tears out of her eyes. Thinking about those women of God made her want to be a good woman. Dianne determined in her mind that she was going to do just that, be a good woman. |
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