runaway husbands and some women had faces sagging with the boredom of too much money and too much time. The challenge of these women nearly broke my heart. Maybe I was the only one in their routine of life who really knew Christ’s love — and if so — what if I failed to communicate it? I began to go to the monthly meet ings with an exciting joy wondering whom I would love. Waiting for the meetings to start ( before I gave my in spiring inspiration) became a sacred trust and time and time again I watched God move just the right person into the seat next to me. The meetings themselves are a total ly different challenge. When they start to get negative, I become positive. When they take on a critical note, I become the praiser, but more revolutionary — when a dignified battle of words begins, I can be the peacemaker (a thankless job, but one that’s needed neverthe less !). When P.T.A. began this year, I thought I’d not be asked back. The new president (a fabulous gal) was cer tainly not a church member, but when she selected her board, I was the first to be asked back. P.T.A. anyone? I don’t know about you, but once my attitude was over hauled, God gave me the privilege of a neighborhood mission field, and believe me, the harvest is happening! iB m i VALENTINE’S DAY THOUGHT Love is a wonder-worker, but it gets along better when it has brains to di rect it. — B il l y S u n d a y TEA FOR TWO Making a pot of tea for two might be an easy task, but what about a Mexican casserole or chop suey for two? That could be a problem, so BETTER HOMES AND GARDENS has a new, exciting cookbook with a great many solutions. It’s an ideal book for single career gals with a room-mate, newlyweds or couples with children away (at school or married). The chapters go from ‘Frankly Fancy” to “ Easy On The Bud get” and included in the chapter, “ ABC’s of Cooking For Two” are some excellent hints on utensils like: 1. Kitchen tongs: The perfect tool for holding and dipping foods. Be sure to use tongs instead of a fork for turning broiled meats to avoid loss of natural juices. 2. Collander: Remember to wash and drain rather than soak fresh vegetables and fruit. 3. Measuring cup: The wise cook saves time and extra dishwashing by measuring and then mixing right in the measuring cup. 4. Rubber spatula: Perfect for stir ring, saves because it gets into the “ comers” of the pan. 5. Plastic bags: Save ’em! They corral dried bread slices (or crackers) for crushing into crumbs. Cooking For Two —$1.95.
the magic time to thrill their hearts with my genuine depth as a spiritual giant. To my surprise (and later my horror) most everyone at my first bril liant word, turned off their minds and their hearing aids. The click was al most deafening. They tapped fingers, lit their cigarettes and wrote important notes as I spoke. Most certainly I’d failed. Well, I wasn’t going to put up with that — especially since I had the real answers to living and they didn’t want to listen. I particularly didn’t care for Mrs. So-and-So’s attitude. After all, I’d given up considerable time and ef fort to be spiritually smashing and I was used to audiences responding (fa vorably, that is!). I stuck it out those first gruesome months and (as He often does) God brought to mind Keith Miller’s book, The Second Touch, so I took a second look at those 20 women and what I saw righted the most important wrong: My attitude. The first thing that changed was my attitude toward Mrs. So-and-So who needed to be loved so badly. Until I looked at her with eyes of Christ’s love I did not see that she was an al coholic and later (much later) God allowed my music to comfort her bro ken heart and body. Then, gradually I began to see that looking at them in the loving eyes of Christ, they became women with real loneliness, problems, rebellious children,
Before I was a Christian my favorite line was, “ I’d rather drop dead than be a gossiping, critical P.T.A. mem ber.” Now my tune has changed and I’ve narrowed the sentence down to, “ I’d rather drop dead than ge a gossip ing critic (period).” But what of the P.T.A. ? Do Christian women belong in P.T.A.? Here are some of my thoughts and cer tainly I speak only for myself, but these thoughts are passed on — being a P.T.A. board member last year and this year at Emerson Junior High School. The first time I was contacted to be the inspirational chairman I thought, “ Oh, no, not with THAT bunch of women;” besides, I certainly did not want to be the kind of inspirational chairman who stood up and read some insipid poem about the wind and sky! But, I said, “ I’ll think about it.” The thing that changed my mind was my children’s faces when I told them I’d been asked. They were abso lutely hysterical with joy and words like “ Great! Neat! How fabulous!” greeted my announcement. (How could I turn them down?) I realize now their enthusiasm was high because the job offered was directly related to them. The job" had nothing to do with my singing, my broadcasting or my writ ing, but had EVERYTHING to do with being a mother — their mother. I ac cepted the next day. Then came my first marvelous meet ing with 20 or so board members and
THE KING'S BUSINESS
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