Former American Press staff writer Sunny Brown Farley writes "Naked Faith," a look at faith in its natural form: lived out in the day-to-day lives of ordinary people.

A Seed Planted

Posted October 4, 2009 at 6:45 pm
Filed Under Faith & Religion | 2 Comments

About five or six years ago, my husband and I were serving as youth directors in a small East Texas church.

One of our flock was a cheerful young girl named Andrea.

Andrea was funny, happy and bright. She came to church alone. Someone in the congregation picked her up and dropped her off at home before and after worship and for youth meetings and church functions.

She was faithful to come to everything even without much support and encouragement from her parents.

She went through a confirmation class with other youngsters from the church one year and after learning about what it means to be a Christian, she became one.

Andrea was one of the kids who really got it.

She felt the love of God and felt a deep love for God.

I still remember picking her up for a sunrise Easter service that year and listening to her talk about how she was so filled with a love for God that she just had to serve the Lord.

After moving around for several years, moving out of state to college and coming home again, Andrea has once again settled close by and returned to my life.

She is now a young woman though she is still the same funny, happy and bright person she was a girl. She works at a retail store and takes classes at the local college.

She has a bunch of friends and – best of all – now has a new faith family.

Today, Andrea joined a church near her home.

I could not have been more proud as I sat in the pews and applauded her decision. She pledged to support the church with her prayers, her presence, her gifts, her service and her witness.

She beamed as she stood before her brothers and sisters in Christ.

Around her neck she wore the silver cross necklace she received as a gift upon her confirmation years ago. It was a reminder of the seed planted in her young life, a seed that has grown as she has grown.

I can hardly wait to see what God has in store for Andrea.

One thing is for sure, God loves her and so do I!

Comments

2 Responses to “A Seed Planted”

Cindy Willis on October 4th, 2009 7:19 pm

Awesome words Sunny. So proud of Andrea! Can’t wait to serve by her side.
Andrea Skipper on October 4th, 2009 11:05 pm

Thank you Sunny … really great words they made tears fall … But I do have to add that I did have your encouragement every weekend, that is why I am happy to call you my second mom!! Love you Sunny

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