Catching up with the Littlefields

While I was out in Kansas a couple of weeks ago, I had the opportunity to catch up with Fred and Naomi Littlefield who were my pastors several years ago. I think they came to our church when I was about a fifth grader and stayed until maybe my freshman or sophomore year of high school.

I loved the years that they served at our church. Naomi took me under her wing and helped me adjust in those painfully awkward years. She cheered me on as I took a step to join the church choir, she supported my initiative to start teaching the kids during our midweek service, she loved to see me work in the nursery, and she backed me up when I wanted to join the handbell choir. Where other pastor's wives might have told me I was too young or I needed to do things with kids my age - she pushed me to try new experiences and keep doing the things that inspired my heart.

My freshman year of high school (I think) - my parents took me to a county-wide meeting for the churches in our denomination. I thought the trip odd, because we didn't usually attend those. I sat in the back of the service and scribbled away probably on an old bulletin. Suddenly I realized the man at the front was in the middle of giving away an award and the activities of the person being described sounded remarkably familiar. A moment later, my name was called, and I had to walk to the front of the church to receive a certificate. I had no idea what to say or do - the whole thing was a shock to me!

The award was a leadership award for youth in the denomination. Most of the recipients had been in upper high school or college. I was the youngest one (to that point) to be nominated. And Naomi had nominated me. As she sat in the other services and heard the achievements of the others, she decided I was doing just as much as they were and there was no reason why I shouldn't get that award. I still have the certificate I received that night - and a beautiful memory of a pastor's wife who believed in me.

And Pastor Fred - he was a great preacher. It was under his preaching that I first started taking notes in church (no small feat!) - and I still have much of it hidden away for reference. He had such a loving heart for everyone in his congregation, and I thought the world of him.

I'd not seen either of them since they moved away to pastor another church, and it was so wonderful to get to see them both again. Mom and Jeff and I sat in their living room and Naomi served us the most delicious punch with little flowered napkins - always the hostess she is.