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SITTING BY THE BIG GIRLS IN CHURCH

by Connie P. Williams, Ph.D.

I remember a time when children were expected to sit with their parents or respected guardian during church worship service. Parents attempted to make you pay attention to the worship service and tried to keep you from chewing gum, making faces, or hitting at your brother or sister. Your parents felt they were responsible for your religious exposure and your spiritual growth. Your parents made sure you went to Sunday School, Training Union, children’s mission meeting, night services, revivals, Vacation Bible School, and any other church activity that was available in the community. When you reached what your parents considered an age of maturity, you could sit with some of the older children of the church. They were considered well behaved and younger children could sit by them if their parents were sure they ‘knew how to act’. I couldn’t wait until I could get to sit by the ‘Big Girls’ in church.

The Big Girls that I knew were a few years older than me. To get to sit by them in church was an honor. They were so fashionable in their Big Girl clothes. Their hair was always so pretty because they didn’t have to wear pigtails and plaits anymore. They didn’t have to wear socks. Some of them wore stockings and pretty high heeled shoes to church. They could talk to boys and they were so pretty, smart and articulate. They were the kind of Big Girl I aspired to be.

As we enter Women’s History month, I think of women that I aspire to be. There are women who are around us who have accomplished much and still continue to give and serve in a commendable manner in the community. They do not seek any credit or fanfare for the marvelous work that they do. When I go to my church now, there is a group of Ladies that I sit by. As I am joining them on the pew, I’ll say, “I want to sit by the Big Girls today.” We all smile and enjoy the worship service together. They are the women that I aspire to be. They are beautiful, articulate, and smart. I don’t think they would mind if I said that they are all over 70 years old. At this time in their lives, they have lived full and exemplary lives. These gracious women have retired from positions in education, the retail industry and the home. They continue to lead lives that are worthy of being followed. They carry out their life’s work with such a sense of charity and benevolence. They have been dedicated caretakers of their loved ones and endured personal losses many times over. They remain active in community service organizations and they are regular visitors to nursing homes and to others who are ill and in despair at home. These women are giving and caring. Yet, they very seldom miss a Sunday church service or Sunday School. They teach classes at church and continue to ‘study to show themselves approved’ through consistent Bible study. They are truly the women who ‘enter to worship and depart to serve’. They face their day to day lives with such grace.

I encourage you to look around you and find some ‘Big Girls’ to sit by in church. Look for the women whom you can aspire to be. They will help you grow spiritually in ways you don’t expect. Hopefully, we will one day be one of the ‘Big Girls’ that others aspire to be. Let’s make sure we are worthy of the ‘Big Girl’ title. You know you’re living right when someone tells you they want to sit by the ‘Big Girls’ in church and you’re one of them. Until then, my sisters, sit by the ‘Big Girls’ in church.

Send your feedback to Dr. Williams at
cpwilliams5@yahoo.com
and ideas for future columns to
religion@eastaustinonline.com