Staff Writer - Carol Cato
Beth and Paulette arrived at the party already in full swing. Paulette watched Beth as she worked the room. Beth had a confidence about her, she had not seen many of her friends in ages, but she came out tonight for Hazel’s 40th Birthday. The party had a fairly large crowd with sufficient room to dance. The lights were not too dark and you can recognize people’s faces. The music was not loud so guests were able to have conversation. Soon everyone was talking about Beth’s transformation and how Christianity really suited her. Frank said to Paulette, “Your cousin has really changed, it seems like Christianity is really agreeing with her. She was always in to that “Independent woman” stuff but now she is talking about how much she loves the Lord, how her marriage to Jerry has become stronger since she had dropped the self indulgence and let Jerry be the man of their home. I want a woman like that” Frank said. (Matthew 5:14-16) To which Paulette shot back, “Such a typical male response.” But Frank defiantly said, “No, you need to go and listen to your cousin she is making sense. Beth is talking about the respect that is lost in the black community. Black men do not feel like men in their homes anymore. Paulette shouted back, “maybe because they don’t have a home of their own”. Frank asked Paulette, “So whose fault is that”? “If you as a woman choose to pick up a man that have nothing you cannot blame the man”. Beth kept quiet at that point, as she thought about Kurt who has just moved in, with no job, no home of his own and left another woman to move in with her. Frank also went on to say. “Beth also said, more and more black women show less respect to their men because they work outside the home and earn more than their men do.” Frank said. “Just because a woman earns more than her man does not mean he cannot be the head of the household.” Paulette snapped. “So what did she say about men respecting their women? Paulette asked. “Well, she said men should love their wives like they love their own bodies. (Ephesians 5:25) (Colossians 3:19) ”Frank said.
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Finally Paulette got tired of listening to Frank, she went over to Beth and grabbed her by the hand and lead her over to some settees to sit down and talk. As Paulette grabbed hold of Beth there was another woman who was following them. Sue was her name another “Christian” who wanted to talk more with Beth. They were talking about prayer. Paulette couldn’t quite understand what they were saying. Paulette asked, “Do you mean you just talk to God,” they both said “Yes”. But that’s not praying, said Paulette. They ask Paulette if she has ever talked to God? “Yeah” she said, when I say “Oh my God! I’m only joking ladies, but seriously. I do pray to him I recite the Lord’s Prayer.” (Matthew 6:9-13) “That is enough isn’t it?” Paulette asked. Both Beth and Sue said “yes, as long as it is from the heart and not just from the top of your head. But do you truly understand the Lords’ Prayer?” asked Sue and Beth “what do you mean?” Paulette asked. “Well when you pray the Lord’s Prayer, do you take your time to study the meaning behind what you are saying?” Paulette had to admit that, as a ritual, she just recited it like she would a mantra or poem, before she went to bed, and that was it. She was never taught about a right or wrong way to pray at her church, unless she missed that part.(2 Timothy 3:7) Paulette had known the Lord’s Prayer since she was a child. Right then and there, Beth and Paulette decided to explain the Lord’s Prayer.
Continue next week – The Lord’s Prayer
