“Next to the might of God, the serene beauty of a holy life is the most powerful influence for good in the world.” (Dwight L. Moody)
As I dig in the soil of my mother Ellen's life, I think back to when I wrote her memoir, "In the Garden," and how I wanted to use the subtitle, "An Ordinary Woman; An Extraordinary Life."
After all, according to C.S. Lewis, “Every human being is in the process of becoming a noble being, noble beyond imagination. Or else, alas, a vile being, beyond redemption…there are no ordinary people…It is immortals whom we joke with, work with, marry, snub and exploit – immortal horrors or everlasting splendors.”
I knew my mother never thought of herself as extraordinary, and such a description would have made her feel uncomfortable; however, she would have approved of the subtitle I chose, for it is a testimony to what God can accomplish through an ordinary person when they are totally yielded to Him – all of God, none of self. That is extraordinary; it comes only from God’s work in a person’s life.
• Like ordinary women of old, I believe my mother was specially touched by God and used by Him for a special purpose in His kingdom on Earth:
• Like Rahab, who helped bring Jericho down by hiding two Israelite spies.
• Like Ruth, who committed to her mother-in-law, Naomi, and became the great-grandmother of David through her marriage to Boaz.
• Like the widow in 2 Kings 4, who used her small jar of oil and followed Elisha’s instructions to fill empty jars, miraculously producing enough oil to pay off her debts.
• Like Hannah, who prayed fervently for a son, and after God granted her wish, fulfilled her vow to dedicate her son, Samuel, to God’s service.
• Like Elizabeth, mother of John the Baptist.
• Like Lydia, seller of purple cloth, whose house became a meeting place for the early church.
• Like Priscilla, a Jewish Christian who traveled with Paul and assisted in his missionary work.
• Like Mary, mother of Jesus, who displayed courage and obedience by accepting God’s plan for her to give birth to the Savior of the world.
St. Therese of Lisieux, associated with numerous miracles, believed one could be ordinary but transformed through love. Though these women were human and some suffered despair, temptations, doubts and depression, they, like Ellen, exhibited faith, humility, acceptance and obedience to God’s will at crucial, defining “crossroads” moments in their lives. They never forsook their Jesus, and as a result, He used their lives for extraordinary purposes.
Rev. Robert Jeffress cites three foundational qualities of ordinary people whose lives God can transform for extraordinary things. Let’s examine how Ellen’s life exhibited these qualities:
1. Passion - When Ellen, a city girl, married Henry, the love of her life, and moved to the small farm (present-day Country Dairy), she could not have known the rigors and challenges awaiting her; yet she threw herself wholeheartedly into being a helpmeet for Henry, earning a living and raising a family. The first chapter of the memoir, “God Will Provide,” illustrates how she turned their house on the hill into a hub of creative, controlled activity – physically, culturally, intellectually and spiritually. She was CEO, CFO, accountant, human resources specialist, head chef, production control, scheduler and customer service representative all rolled into one.
“… never be lacking in zeal.” (Romans 12:11)
2. Purpose is the story God has created for you to tell others.
Although Ellen’s initial story centered around being a helpmeet to Henry, her life took on a dual physical/spiritual nature, as events, such as her realization of the vulnerabilities of making a living on a small farm and the death of her beloved daughter, challenged her faith and forced her into the arms of her loving Lord. Those defining moments caused her to see a deeper, eternal purpose to her life: to glorify God; to accept and obey His will; to put her trust in Him.
“…who saved us and called us to a holy calling, because of His purpose and grace.” (2 Timothy 1:9)
3. Prayer - My mother believed in the power of prayer. As walking and talking with her Lord was the foundation of her life, so her prayers provide the foundation upon which I wrote her story.
“Draw near to God, and He will draw near to you.” (James 4:8)
Stay tuned as we explore another defining moment that challenged Ellen’s faith: sending their youngest son to Vietnam.
