Why I support Trinity

I am Peggy Sample Reen. When I was asked to give this stewardship moment this song came to mind: He Leadeth Me; O Blessed Thought. When I was in high school I took piano lessons and I would sit for hours and play and sing to myself the songs in the little brown hymnal and this is one of the songs I sang. It goes like this:
He leadeth me; O blessed thought
O words with heavenly comfort fraught
Whatever I do, where ever I be;
Still ‘tis God’s hand that leadeth me.
 
I have thought about it and in order to answer the question, why do I give, I feel I need to tell you who I am and where I come from. I was born on a dairy farm in Tennessee and my grandmother took us to church in a buggy from the time I was a baby so I have been part of a Methodist church as long as I can remember. She lost her husband when her children were small. She was a devout Christian and had a very strong character and raised her 4 children alone. We were a very close family and were very involved in the church, it was our family. I spent lots of time with my grandmother and a lot of her character I see in myself.  I love people and have compassion and understanding, thus why I chose nursing as my profession.
 
The second person that helped make me who I am is my mother. She set an example for her children to follow. She loved God and her fellow man unconditionally. She studied her Bible and prayed every day and she loved to go to God’s house. She was very active in the church, and when she died I got her Bible.
 
Thus the answer to the question, why do I support Trinity?, is easy. To me, developing relationships is the most important part of one's life and being committed and involved in what ever you belong to makes one’s life meaningful. Some of the people that have influenced my life here at Trinity are Margaret and Harry Galloway who invited Noel and I to come to Trinity. Genève McCord who was a gracious, giving person, who showed me how to pray. Melba Anderson who taught my children. Gary and Marilyn Forbes helped me become involved in the life of the church. Gary is the only pastor that helped to grow the endowment fund and that made an impression on me. Kim Reisman who taught Disciple Bible that changed my life. I could go on but this shows you how important getting involved and making relationships are to your life.
 
I told myself a long time ago I wanted to be part of the solution and not part of the problem, so I volunteered to be on the Council of Ministries and became involved and God has been leading me ever sense. It is a matter of priorities. Trust the Lord completely and in everything you do, put God first, and he will direct you and crown your efforts. Be truthful and kind, let love and faithfulness always lead you, don’t be conceited, and honor the Lord by giving him the first part of you income. When you serve other or give your money, you are serving God. When I took the oath of membership I vowed to give of myself, my time, my talents and my money to serve the Lord and that is why I give to Trinity.