Wow, ((((FLORENCE))))) "You GO, girl!!!"

[Theodora]

Thanks so much for your summary post of your background on your thread started in Dec. (!!?!!!) As you may or may not know, I'm sort of an "also-ran" here---having been on my own version of a "spiritual journey" through the churches (and not being able to return to some for various reasons)---though I've certainly not experienced the kind of outright abuse about which so many here have. (My situation has centered more in a kind of "spiritual neglect"---though I do have an unresolved "issue" at my "currently former" church which might get into outright abuse questions...certainly the situation was "triggering" enough for me that I haven't been at a regular service since then.)

In any case, as I've been "lurking" here a bit and trying to follow various story-lines, it REALLY made me smile to get to your conclusion about your being able to attend the church where you had been abused and be RIGHT UP FRONT!!! Thanks so much for taking the time to share something of your saga!

WOW oh WOW!!! :D

Keep the faith...and keep up the good work. God DOES have a sense of humor, I think...and he DOES use our circumstances in "mysterious ways" at times. Ya never know.....!!!

Grace and peace to you and yours this day.

Theodora

[Florence]

Theo, (Do you mind if I call you Theo?)

Thanks for the cheers.

I think the whole "you're going to have to measure up" thing that I was told when I was told I was "unfit" to work at my church (after my pastor had recommended me for the exact same position where I currently work) just flipped some switch inside me that said, "You know, I'm not going to take this again!"

In a way, I feel like every time I sit up there in the "inner circle" (the chairs up front are angled so we all are forced to look at one another throughout the service and the pastor always sits in the front row of the "inner circle") I am rubbing his nose in the fact that he has not extended the grace to me that he preaches every Sunday. I wonder if I am a thorn in his flesh . . .

I no longer worry about being rejected or shunned or any of that . . . nothing left to do but enjoy! And since I have nothing else to lose - why take any of his crap?!?! :eek:

Blessings,
Florence

[Theodora]

...you're not only making that minister THINK a bit, but may also be affecting others in that "circle." As I said, I do think that God has a sense of humor AND that it's true that he does "move in mysterious ways" at times.

For me, the question of "measuring up" has LONG since been accomplished in your life in that you are evidently able to extend a kind of "grace" to THEM...i.e. by BEING there and not avoiding them...that they are not able (at this point) to do for you. I vary in my own ability to do that...so again...YEA for you!!!

Grace and peace!

((((Florence))))

Theodora/"Theo"

(Yes...It's fine if you call me "Theo." In fact, that's what my mother, whose name I have "borrowed" on the forums as my own on-going memorial to her, was called. I've lengthened it to use the full name both because I can't QUITE call myself by her name and because it is also a daily reminder for me to think of myself TOO as a "gift of God"---- the meaning of the name---- since my own name means "stranger"---and I have always felt too much how appropriate that was! ;) :p :D )

Theo, (Do you mind if I call you Theo?)

Thanks for the cheers.

I think the whole "you're going to have to measure up" thing that I was told when I was told I was "unfit" to work at my church (after my pastor had recommended me for the exact same position where I currently work) just flipped some switch inside me that said, "You know, I'm not going to take this again!"

In a way, I feel like every time I sit up there in the "inner circle" (the chairs up front are angled so we all are forced to look at one another throughout the service and the pastor always sits in the front row of the "inner circle") I am rubbing his nose in the fact that he has not extended the grace to me that he preaches every Sunday. I wonder if I am a thorn in his flesh . . .

I no longer worry about being rejected or shunned or any of that . . . nothing left to do but enjoy! And since I have nothing else to lose - why take any of his crap?!?! :eek:

Blessings,
Florence

[Florence]

Theo,
I am borrowing my mother's name, too - though very few people call her "Florence" - she was dubbed "Pooch" as a small child and everyone sticks to it! She's in her 70's now and she is my hero. She survived the loss of her first husband (my father) to cancer when he was only 33 and she was 28 - leaving her with 4 children to raise (I was the youngest at 3 years old). She rented out the farm land (all 80 acres) and went to work eventually working her way up to assistant manager at a major department store (until she decided she wouldn't take any more of their crap, threw her keys down and walked out - she's my hero!) She saw her house be submerged in flood waters in the flood of '63 and then again in '93. She has battled health problems for the past 30 years and after having by-pass surgery about 3 years ago she is walking on a treadmill, biking around the neighborhood, and she knows more about computers than anybody I know. She still pretty scrappy and I want to be just like her when I grow up!

Blessings,
Florence