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Dedicated to a Worthy Woman - Charmaine Louise Kidd Cooley
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Dedicated to a Worthy Woman
Charmaine Louise Kidd Cooley
By Cheryle M. Touchton
The Pocket Full of Quarters Lady
Proverbs 31:28-30
Her children arise and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her: "Many women do noble things, but you surpass them all." Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised. NIV
Today, June 25, 2008, is Charmaine Louise Kidd Cooley’s birthday. Dr. Don Cooley, the pastor of Hart Haven Baptist Church and Char’s husband of 35 years, donated the price of a day of missionary work to Pocket Full of Change Ministries and asked that I dedicate the work I do on her birthday to Char and give her a report of what was accomplished. I was charmed by the honor he showed her by this request and wanted to do more. I often write stories of the faith of the people I meet. I do this as a source of encouragement and to offer worthy role models for the readers of this site. Today, on Char’s birthday, I have the privilege to share with you about a Worthy Woman.
I’ve known Char for years. She is the Director of Hart Haven’s M&M (Mary and Martha) Ministry and several years ago, she invited me to lead a weekend retreat for the women of her church. She also takes care of the church nursery and actively participates in missions. She is a typical “behind the scenes” person with strong administrative and service spiritual gifts, and slightly uncomfortable in the spot light, but when talking in public is necessary, she rises to the occasion and does it well.
Char and I had grandchildren gifted to us at about the same time and I don’t know which of us w more thrilled. We are close in age, and have been married to and are still in love with our husbands after 35 years. I have watched Char manage her family, church work, and the work of being a shepherd’s wife with the ease and grace of the “Worthy Woman” described in Proverbs 31. Her husband, Don, has been a mentor to me in ministry and she a role model for what it means to be a Worthy Woman.
Because I wanted to do justice to this dedication to a Worthy Woman, I talked to some of her church members. They told me about Char’s love for missions and working with children. On Father’s Day, Don told the entire congregation what a blessing she was to him. I’ve personally witnessed her amazing impact in the woman’s ministry.
One church member laughed and said, “It must be hard being married to a person as outgoing, capable, and in the spot light as Don Cooley. Char never minds the attention he gets, helps him stay organized, and protects his time and health when necessary. She is a perfect “help meet” for Don.” (The word “help meet” comes from Genesis 2:18 in the King James translation.)
She went on to say, “When I think of Char, I think of missions. She has a real heart for missions. When I asked Don what Char wanted for her birthday, he suggested that I donate to a mission project. I told him I would do that but that I wanted to also get her something personal.”
That was when I realized how personal missions really were for Char. She loves people more than things and it shows in how she lives. In dedicating this day of missions to Char, Don knew what would please his wife. The awesome responsibility of going out into the world today on behalf of the Worthy Woman, Char Cooley, settled heavily on my shoulders, and for a moment, I felt unworthy. Then I remembered the reason we all go out – Jesus died us and rose from the dead to tell us to go out into the world. We do not go out alone – He is always with us.
So, today pray for Char Cooley, her faithful minister husband, her role as a “help meet,” and her honor as a grandmother. Her family –her church and her biological family – “rises up and calls her blessed.” Take a moment, read Proverbs 31, and thank God for all the Worthy Women in your life. Pray for me as I go out into the world, sharing the Christ that Char loves so much. Tomorrow, I’ll tell you about Char’s day of missions.
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Cheryle M. Touchton is the Director of Pocket Full of Change Ministries. For more information or to schedule a speaker for an event, go to www.pocketfullofchange.org or call Gail Golden at 904 316-5462.
This ministry exists because people like you are called to help fund the work of the kingdom. To help keep the Pocket Full of Quarters Lady on the road as a traveling missionary, send your tax deductible contribution to Pocket Full of Change Ministries, POB 51205, Jacksonville Beach, Florida 32240.
© Pocket Full of Change Ministries
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