Great Commission Churches

May 2009 

Dear Sisters,

Have you ever given serious thought to how many people your life is influencing? This month's article urged me to also consider the direction and quality of my influence on others, and to seek more than ever to draw those I serve closer to Jesus Christ and His gospel.

"Granny" was a loving wife and mother who had an incredible impact on many, many people. She was a person of influence because of her devotion to the Lord and her faithfulness to obey God's word. Our writer points out that the "teaching of kindness was on her tongue." But what spoke the loudest to those she loved and served was her example.

I pray the Lord Jesus inspires us from Granny's life to find joy in imitating Him, who came not to be served, but to serve.

United with you for His glory,

Sandy Hopler

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The Power of an Example by Thelma Clark

I wish you all could have known Granny (as everyone called her). Starting when I was 18, I was privileged on several occasions over a couple of years to stay for months at a time in Granny's home. Little did I realize then how much she was impacting my life, but her example in so many areas was what Titus 2 speaks of: "older women teach younger women," with the emphasis being teaching by example as much as by words.

Through the years since then, remembering her example and receiving occasional advice from her has often instructed or inspired me.

It always seemed that her attitudes, joy, and zeal were primarily from her strong personality and giftedness (and of course from the Lord). But at her memorial service last summer when I heard from her family the real reason for who she was, it left a lasting impression.

Let me describe those times in her home as I remember them.

What a busy place it was, housing Granny, her husband, and their two adult sons, her daughter and son-in-law with their seven young children, AND they were keeping the 8-10 of us "singles," as well as continually persuading numerous guests to come for meals or evenings of fellowship with homemade ice cream or goodies!

It didn't matter who walked in the door-Granny would warmly and enthusiastically greet them. She had a way about her that made everyone feel special and sincerely loved.

This enthusiasm for people didn't deter her hard work in managing the home and all that was going on in it either.

She was usually the first one up in the morning (reading her Bible before going to the kitchen), and often the last one to bed at night. Her home was her "tool" for loving people by providing good times of fellowship and great food. Meals were a real gathering time. Somehow everyone sat down (the adults mixed in with the little ones), and the relaxed after-dinner conversation usually centered on the Lord and His Word.

Even though Granny thrived on hearing and being a part of these discussions, she often never sat down, but kept bringing more food, making sure everyone was taken care of. She always assured us that she had gotten plenty to eat-but it was probably by eating what was left on the little ones' plates (seriously!).

Whether Granny was cleaning, doing laundry, instructing a child, or cooking (feeding 20-30 people daily!), she was cheerful and often singing (teaching anyone else in the kitchen her songs); and she knew how to graciously get everyone in the kitchen involved in helping.

She often placed toys in an out-of-the-way place in the kitchen so she could supervise the little ones' play and sing with them while she worked. Whatever conversation came up as we helped her, Granny seemed to find ways to make the most of the opportunity by applying God's Word to the topic.

It was a new experience for me to live with a family where the speech of all the adults was characterized by an extra measure of graciousness. This in itself made it such a warm and welcoming place to be.

Now I realize how much Granny's spirit enlarged her influence-because we loved being around her and it drew us to her; and then, because we felt loved, we were receptive to her unapologetically speaking the truth to us. I was being exposed more than I ever had before to a home focused on loving God and loving and influencing people for Him-all lived out in a very magnetic way.

Fast-forward nearly 40 years to Granny's memorial service.

It was inspiring to get a small glimpse of the fruit of her life. All of the "little" grandchildren, now grown (who should've hardly remembered us) greeted us with the warmth and enthusiasm that had been Granny's way, making us feel loved and special to them. We were joined by the rest of the grandchildren, most of whom had their own spouses and little ones now. It was exciting to see them loving God and reflecting the godly values we had seen lived out in Granny.

I was reminded of the verse: "Grandchildren are the crown of the aged." They were truly bringing honor and attention (as a crown would) to the life she had modeled, taught, and prayed for.

Many individuals in the audience stood and told of the times they'd been in Granny's home, of her influence on their lives, and of the many ways she had served them and been an example to them-each of these now representing numerous others that their individual lives had touched.

We heard of the impact this extended family (beginning with three children) has had on the whole community over the years as it's grown to 16 grandchildren and 27 great-grandchildren--that when this family is mentioned, people know of their testimony and hold them in high regard.

And they know of how Granny (nearly blind in her later years) had asked daily to be taken to a different grandchild's home so she could do their laundry-even when she had a broken arm!

At the service I was touched by the extent to which Granny's quiet life had so profoundly impacted and empowered others. I was encouraged and convicted that the gracious speech and warm spirit that had characterized Granny now imprinted the grown-up grandchildren. But hearing something I "didn't know" about Granny impacted me the most.

Her family told of how she was not necessarily a cheerful person-but that after she came to know the Lord, she read the Bible as God's Word to her as how she should live. When she read the verse: "This is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it," her response was, "I'm going to obey."

They also told of her life as a younger woman. We all knew she was a very gifted and spirited woman, but I had only seen it lived out as a devoted wife and mother in her home and community.

In the 1920's when many women didn't go to college, she did-and she was the only woman in the Amarillo Philharmonic Orchestra (a cellist), resulting in a radio contract that she eventually broke to get married. Years later, when as a married woman, she heard what the Word taught about God's plan for the roles in marriage, she wholeheartedly committed to this for her marriage and family.

The memorial program said of her: "The Lord gave His life for her and she wanted to give her life for Him. Faith seemed easy, and obedience was instant. She was unapologetic about whatever she felt the Lord wanted her to do; the vision that will forever be burned in the mind of her children and grandchildren is of their Granny, sitting beneath her window with the daybreak sun streaming in, reading her large print Bible with her magnifying glass. In the last 10 years she slowly read through her Bible seven times, able to see only two words at a time."

God used Granny to imprint me once again that day as I heard that it was her choices to obey the Word that made her who she was. Her daily time with Him gave her the strength she needed. It was little choices-but with far-reaching, life-changing effects!

With my heart newly challenged, I was encouraged when they shared that if Granny could speak to us from where she is now, she would tell us, "It is worth it all! Don't grow weary--you will reap a harvest. Stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain."

Granny knows this now, and I'm forever grateful that God allowed Millie McCotter's life to touch (and repeatedly touch) mine.

Thelma Clark
Parker, CO

If you want to respond to Thelma, contact our office at info@gccweb.org to get her email address.