There Must Be a Cause By Carol Tudor

      Recently, as I walked out with a visiting lady from a class I had just taught, she said, “How can you be so happy when you are a single lady?”  I stopped to think for a minute.  I thought of several reasons revert back to one fact and that is that I have a  cause! 

     This visitor went on to tell me some of the sad facts about her life that occurred before she was saved.  I empathized with her in that she had some complexities in her life that were not her fault.  I had never had to face those types of hurts.  I reasoned with her that I could be happier than she because I was not rearing some children on my own without a husband/father.  I can be  happier than she because I had never been married and then had to learn to live without a husband as she has had to do.

     How can I miss what I never had?  My answers to her were as follows:

     1.  Make your church number one in your life.  She happens to attend a great soul-winning church and is an active soul winner.  I said, “No matter what, if you never marry again (which is what she wants to do), stay active and faithful in church.”

     2.  Give your life to the training and loving of the children for whom you do have custody.   Become a Coystal Hyles and build your son  and daughter just as Mrs Hyles did.  (The visitor was doing a pretty great job.   She already had one son attending Hyles-Anderson College, a Bible college.)

     3.  Look at what assets there are in your life and focus mentally on those assets.  Concentrate on them!  When the Devil brings to mind the parts of your life you can’t change, then immediately start thinking on the parts of your life about which you can do something.  Refuse to be envious of those who seem to have what you don’t have.  Refuse to compare yourself to anyone.

     4.  Always be learning something new.  Being single, widowed, divorced or unmarried with children doesn’t mean a person can’t learn or grow.  If I were alone with a child, I would like to think I would read every book by fundamental authors on the Christian life and child rearing I could get.  I’d like to think I would read every one of Dr. and Mrs Jack Hyles’ books.  I would hope I would help keep my child active in church.  I trust I would take him to Youth Conference at First Baptist Church of Hammond in July and to preaching conferences.

     In my case, I have really tried to challenge myself to be a life-changing Sunday school teacher.  I have looked for new ways to keep the attention of a dozen bus kids.  I have asked for advice on teaching girls from a wise and wonderful lady in our church, Mrs. Mary Ruth Harrington, who is most loved and revered by her Sunday school students.

     I find as I give myself daily to teaching my Sunday school girls, visiting their homes, winning their family members, teaching the girls at the college, and learning how to be a better teacher that I am happy with my cause.