Pam Woodson
minister, writer, wife, mom
"Out of the abundance [OVERFLOW] of the HEART, the mouth speaks [the blogger blogs!]" (Luke 6:45).
"Watch over your HEART with all diligence, for from it FLOW the springs of life" (Prov. 4:23).
Woodson Ministries
Solid Bible Teachers
I Like
Joyce Meyer
Kate McVeigh
Bob Yandian
Willie George
Myles Munroe
Woody Woodson!
Radio Favorites
Books
that Have Helped Me
The Bible!
Beyond Ourselves, by Catherine Marshall (I received Christ while reading this in
9th grade)
Cooks Collage, Tulsa Jr. Women's League cooking
Prescriptions for a Miracle, by Mark Brazee (devotionals on healing)
Sparkling
Gems, by Rick Renner (devotionals)
The Pulpit Commentaries
Vine's Expository Dictionary of Old and New Testament Words
Totally
Frivolous Why-would-anyone-else-care? Trivia:
I Like...
Christmastime
Mexican food
Italian food
chocolate!!!
praying in the afternoon
writing
playing
the guitar
looking at the stars
playing baseball
putting (golf)
classic cars
longtime friends
giving the Word
helping needy kids
Butterfingers
flowers
the
color blue
my son's brain and humor
cooking (not every day)
staying up on the news
going to Branson
barbecued ribeyes
love songs
reading
my Bible in the morning
being with Woody and our son
getting flowers and cards from Woody
Reruns: I Love Lucy, Mary
Tyler Moore, Dick Van Dyke, Andy Griffith
listening to praise and worship music
seeing fireworks on the 4th
my birthday,
July 5th -- so one reason they shoot off fireworks the night before?
chocolate doughnuts and orange juice for breakfast
wearing
jeans and sneakers
being me -- the unique person God made
Date: 7/13/09
The Best Chocolate Malt I've
Ever Tasted
by Pam Woodson
This, my dear reader, is a love story. Not one of tale nor yarn nor make-believe
nor fiction; it is a true love story. Long, long ago, in a time when chivalry ranked high and maidens waited longingly for
nothing less than a gallant young lad to sweep her off her feet in dramatic fashion of amorous courtship, lived a noble
prince who rode forth upon his white horse, braving all forces that sought to hinder and risking his very life, to
come to the aid of the princess he loved and oh-so-desired to wed. Okay, it wasn't really THAT long ago; it was my college days.
And the prince wasn't officially a prince -- but he was a "prince of a guy," meaning Woody, of course. I was the princess...actually,
more like a duchess (which makes this part of the story very close to being exact -- my maiden name at the time was "Duke").
The white horse? A gold Dodge Dart. I think I would rather have had the white horse. Woody worked three jobs the previous summer
to get money enough to pay cash for a car just so he could date this girl here he had met. His choices were a Mustang or a Camaro.
However, while visiting a Dodge car dealership, a protesting picket line blocked his way, demanded he leave, and cursed
threats at him, saying that he could NOT cross over to buy a car. My husband-to-be barged through the line and bought a Dodge. He
showed THEM -- he bought a vehicle he didn't even like just to make a point! I could have dated in a cool car
instead of that old ugly Dodge; but, nooooooo, I was escorted in a symbol that proves no-one-tells-Woody-Woodson-what-to-do! As far
as the prince coming to my aid -- yes, he did...and that is where the best chocolate malt I've ever tasted comes on the scene.
It
may sound impossible to actually be able to recall the absolute best chocolate malt you ever have had, but not for me. It's
the simplest thing on earth. In college one wintry night when Woody and I were dating, I didn't feel well. A virus or flu had
me secluded in my room. Woody called on the phone to ask if I wanted him to get me anything. I immediately said, "A chocolate
malt." Now, Tulsa was experiencing a blizzard outside. It was one of the worst snowstorms in years. The campus hamburger joint
was located beside our ORU dorms, though, so I thought it wouldn't be too much trouble for him to get out into the weather
and deliver me a malt. He said he'd get me one and hung up. Time went by, but no Woody and no malt. Three hours later, I received
a call from the lady working at the desk downstairs, saying that Woody wanted to see me. I went downstairs, and there stood Woody
with a big grin on his face and a cup with "Braum's" written on it. Braum's was an ice cream store located a mile down the road. "Here's
your malt," he said. "The hamburger place by the dorms was closed, so I drove to Braum's for it." He had braved a blizzard to get
me that malt. No chains on his tires. No front-wheel drive. Just a regular car on icy roads. And a Dodge Dart, of all cars -- how
much worse could it be? It had taken him an hour and a half each way to travel down the street and buy me that malt. Still in shock,
I received it from his hand and sipped it through the straw. After being by his car heater for so long, it was nothing but a
runny, watery mess. It was warm, with not a bit of ice cream chill remaining. The thing was hardly worth all the weight-producing
calories absorbed from drinking it. But drank it I did. It was the best chocolate malt I'd ever had -- because Woody had gone
to such lengths to get it for me. Why had he done it? He cared about me, I didn't feel well, and I wanted a chocolate malt.
Those were reasons enough for him. No way would I have asked him to risk his life in a blizzard to get it; I didn't want it THAT
much. But he had, and I knew what his actions meant: He loved me. That made it the best chocolate malt I've ever tasted.
No matter that it was horribly runny and watery. My "special" malt had come from a very special guy...someone I intended
to keep.
People can say they love you, and that is so nice to hear. It's important to hear and to say those
things to one another. But real love has action with it. First John 3:18 says, "Let us not love with word or with tongue, but
in deed and truth." When friends or new acquintances tell me they love me, I feel good inside...but I have learned to wait to
see what happens later: Will they show it? Will love have action or will the words drop to the ground? The coin can be flipped
over, too -- if you or I tell others we love them, we should be ready to show it somehow when an occasion arises. Woody didn't
just tell me he loved me; he showed me he loved me...and he still shows me he does today. After that night at ORU, I knew that
he would show me he loved me all my life -- and I was right. Now, we don't need to risk our lives for one another to show love. That
wasn't the brightest move my usually level-headed husband has ever made in his life. But he had the right idea: Love is action
as well as words. As the old saying goes, "Love is not love until you give it away." Actively give some love away this week...but
as you do, still don't hesitate to say, "I love you." It is wonderful for anyone to hear. Those words have a hidden
power to encourage the downhearted, embrace the lonely, and strengthen the relationships you cheerish. "I love you" is like
icing on the cake, or the lid on a large cup of a chocolate malt.
Giving:
Bible insights,
Personal trivia,
Christian world perspectives
Copyright 2009, by Pam Woodson. All rights reserved.
Living:
Jesus-Is-Lord Christianity,
Grass roots conservativism,
Red-white-and-blue patriotism
Audio: Blessings and Miracles
Monthly RECIPE
(send your recipe, too!)
Comments
Praise & Worship CD's
Hello Love (Chris Tomlin)
Beautiful Name (Church On The Move)
Hillsong
CD's
Michael W. Smith CD's
WOW Worship CD's
Top-Ten I Play On My iPod
Over My Head, Brian Littrell
I
Know You're There, Casting Crowns
Today Is the Day, Lincoln Brewster
With You, Mark Willard
God With Us, MercyMe
You're Not Alone, Meredith
Andrews
Only You, David Crowder Band
Your Grace Is Enough, Matt Maher
What You Give Away, Vince Gill
Blessings, Martina McBride
Movies
with a Message
The Note, Hallmark movie
A zillion Christmas movies
Hallmark Channel movies
Fireproof (good for
marriages)
Facing the Giants (like the strong Christian message, but not so much the acting)
Scriptures I Cling to
Repeatedly
Luke 6:38 (finances)
Prov. 4:18 (hope for better days ahead)
Phil 4:6, 7 (peace)
1 Cor. 15:10;
Phil. 4:13 (ability to do what I just can't do)
Matthew 28:20 (assurance God is with me)
1 John 5:14,15 (assurance
God answers my prayers)
1 Peter 2:24 (healing)
Matt. 11:28 (rest)
1 Peter 5:7 (assurance God loves me)
Pam's Blog
HeartFlow