more than coffee dates

Tomorrow night when I talk about women discipling women, I'll tell them that discipleship is more than putting coffee dates on the calendar- but then, they know that already. . .

Mary and I met consistently every week, then every other week for 2 years, I think.
The purpose in a man's heart is like deep waters, but a man of understanding draws it out (Prov 20). . .we were those women-her heart was like deep waters and I cried to the Lord for understanding.

 Then our meetings changed because Mary had a baby- amazing and wonderful in every way!

After a few months Mary invited me to her home-I sat on her soft brown couch and snuggled the baby. we talked about God and about baby joys and  baby challenges-and we prayed.
Flexible. . .discipleship is flexible.  When Mary's baby was almost a year, I started coming to her house on Friday mornings. I stayed with the baby and Mary went to Starbucks alone with her Bible. It worked. . .I grew to know and love Mary's baby and Mary grew-

So, Scott and Mary moved to California 4 years ago and now the baby is 10.
We still have phone dates, "Mary, I'm doing discipleship training, can I tell them about us?"
"Sure, tell them whatever you want. . .I trust you." She said.

Start, then persevere

I fussed with the words on the page under the title Discipleship.
Finally I scribbled, Start and Persevere. . .then I called my friend in California.

" Mary, remind me how it looked a dozen years ago- how did we start? What did I say to you?"

" We were in Bible study together, remember? I asked if you would meet me for coffee, and then you said, let's do it again!"

So, Mary and I began a discipleship journey more than a decade ago; initially our meetings were really messy. . .her candor stung me and I cowered.
 If Mary had announced, "Enough of this!" I would have capitulated.
But week after week we met at the same Starbucks-opened the Bible, prayed, pursued change for the glory of God, drank coffee.
I learned that growth is a gradual process; it's a battle.
And I learned to ask questions,  to listen just enough, to discern when to talk into a situation, when to push a little, when to wait. . . I'm still learning .
So, weeks and months turned into years ; Mary and I kept meeting and I grew to love her.
Then discipleship changed. . .

 

incredible

Today is my anniversary, 41 years married to the same man.

Incredible. . .

So this morning my husband went off to school disguised as

Mr. Incredible

(superhero day at school)

Really, he's incredible

undefined discipleship. . .

I constantly inspect the curve of the fig vine creeping up the cement wall of my house-
tiny leaves frame the window panes; mentally I measure the growth and  I wonder,  
when will the tendrils reach the roof?
Spiritual growth is like that. . .

This spring I'm involved in discipleship training-
Aye, how do I define this thing that I do. . .that I love to do?
Here's the heart of the matter clearly defined:

So, being affectionately desirous of you, we were ready to share with you not only

 the gospel of God but also our own selves, because you had become very dear to us.
 (1 Thess 2:8)

Maybe I'm struggling to lay out the steps because there are no steps-for me.
but I can't just call it "undefined discipleship". . .
hmmm, a worthy pursuit and I'm not finished yet.
(and there's more. . .) 

My mother collected bells-I can imagine the assortment arranged on her school desk.
Mom liked to say that she taught kindergarten for a hundred years. . .

A few years ago, I chose a bell from her collection, brass and distinctly engraved, with a tiny clapper.
Landis loves to hold the brass bell -he shakes it so gently. 
So, the other day my sweet grandson came to visit, and in the bathroom all by himself, he called,
"Gran, could you bring me Gigi's bell?"
Sure, and I set the bell on the sink where he pointed.
"Why do you want it?" I inquired.
"I'll ring the bell when I'm done. . . ." he called back.
hmmm, a new use for an old brass bell- my mother would love it.