Friday, January 23, 2009

Written by Mrs. Hall, Natalie Snyder, and Maria Varga @ 2:09PM

Dear Preacher,

This past semester at Providence Baptist College, Natalie Snyder and Maria Varga, took a course entitled "The Christian Home". One of the requirements was to write a paper on what they have learned from their mother or pastor's wife. Natalie and Maria chose to write about Mrs. Gomez. The papers were so heartwarming that I thought you would enjoy having them.

Sincerely,

Mrs. Cindy Hall

 

 

Three Things I Have Learned From My Pastor’s Wife
Natalie Snyder

There are many things that I have learned [from Mrs. Carla Gomez], but the first is that of Kindness. This is something that Mrs. Gomez had. Many times the gentle touch of her hand, or the sweet look in her eyes would tell you, “Everything will be alright.” It did not seem to matter what she was going through, but the problems she faced never affected her spirit to be mean or angry. Mrs. Gomez taught me a lot about self-control and ways to handle situations. She never physically taught me, but through her testimony I watched and learned.

The Balance of Life is another thing that I gleaned from Mrs. Gomez. In a Christian life, we need the steady balance of schooling, studying, playing, working, and even talking or listening. I learned to have this balance for the future, and even now, as I am in college. She was a wife and mother, and had to make time for all that she did. She had to keep a good balance, or she might have been doing too much of one thing and not enough of another.

Mrs. Gomez was also a good example of Finishing What You Have Started Out To Do. In my life, I have taken a special quote from Mrs. Gomez that has kept me going all throughout the year: “Stay, and finish to get your degree.” That is something that I am going to do: stay, and finish the work that I have started out doing. It may take me through heartaches and pain, but it is something that I am willing to do. She taught just to keep going; just one more step could take me to the finish line. She had some problems in her life, but they never stopped her from going. I am so glad that she finished her life strong for others around her to follow.

 

 

Three Things I Have Learned From Mrs. Gomez
Maria Varga

When I think about Mrs. Gomez, as I often do, it seems to me that there are certain attributes that she possessed that I would like to possess myself. I stop sometimes, and think about her and what a blessing she was to so many others. I wonder if I could ever have at least some of the qualities that she had in her lifetime.

As I watched Mrs. Gomez, I noticed that she was very patient. She never seemed to look down on anyone, no matter their race, financial status, spiritual level, etc. She just smiled, and spoke gently and kindly to everyone she came in contact with, that were seeking her help or counsel.

As I look back, I recall a time when I was in need of advice, but was rather hesitant to approach her, fearing that she was much too busy to listen to a small problem like mine. I hesitated a little longer, and then I finally decided that I would talk to her and ask for her advice. As I approached her, she smiled softly and kindly, and asked me how I was doing. I answered her and returned the question. She then listened to my problem which, at the time, was a very large problem for me, but in the scheme of things, it was probably not that important, especially not to her; however, she never seemed to be bored with me. She did not try to rush (although, I knew she wanted to go home and be with her family), she just listened patiently, and tried to be helpful to me. To this day, I wish that I was as patient to others as she was to me that day.

Another thing that I have learned from Mrs. Gomez, was that she was submissive. I look at the church that I have the opportunity to attend each Sunday and Wednesday, and as I look around at the beautiful building, I cannot help but think about how this was possible because Mrs. Gomez was submissive to her husband. I realize that if Mrs. Gomez would have been an un-submissive wife, and would not have followed her husband to the place that God had called him, then neither you or I would be sitting here benefiting from the blessings that God has bestowed upon this great ministry. I want to be as submissive to my future husband as Mrs. Gomez was to her husband.

The third, but far from last thing that I have learned from Mrs. Gomez was to be quiet and serve. She was never one of those people that just had to be the center of attention, yet she was always faithful and she accomplished a lot for God – her faithfulness alone spoke volumes. A lot of times, it seems to me, that the reason a conference was prepared as successively as it was, was because of the people that were “behind the scenes”. These people many times do more than those that are always put up front, and praised. That is probably one of, in my opinion, the most important things that I have learned from Mrs. Gomez, because it makes me realize that she wasn’t just serving the Lord because she felt she had to: she did her best to help her husband by supporting him, and she served the Lord to, what I believe, was the best of her ability because she loved the Lord and wanted to be a blessing to others.

Those are the three of many things that I have learned from Mrs. Gomez in her lifetime that I wish I could possess in mine. I miss her and still weep when I think of her and her sweet smile and attitude; she was probably one of the best Christians that I have ever known, and I hope that I will follow her great example.