Story Title: “You get your hands in your pockets….mister!”
By:
Most of you wonGÇÖt know me, my name is Rick Satterthwaite and I graduated high school with Jackie in 1975. In the winter of that last school year, I decided I wanted to GÇ£dateGÇ¥ Jackie and she agreed, as long as I went to church with her. The first time I ever came over to her houseGǪ.the very first timeGǪit was a Saturday. I remember because we were lying on the floor in the living room watching T.V. I will never forget it; it was Wide World of Sports and the guy just went crashing down the ski slope, GÇ£The agony of defeat!GÇ¥ It was about that time I got brave and slipped my arm over JackieGÇÖs back when in the door walked Mrs. Tarkington.
She had never seen me before and I had never seen her! Well, after placing the two bags of groceries on the coffee table, Mrs. Tarkington put her hands on her hips and spoke her first words to this young intruder, GǣYou get your hands in your pocketsGǪGǪMister!Gǥ That put the fear of God in me (or better put the fear of Mrs. Tarkington).
Well, over the next few months I watched this incredible woman as I spent almost every waking moment over there and she became a strong influence on my live. I kept my promise to Jackie and went to Sunday school and church and between church and Mrs. Tarkington; it was on Feb. 16, 1975 that I gave my life to Christ at Broadway Baptist Church. It was between Sunday school and church and I prayed with Pastor Wing in his office.
You know, I honestly cannot remember one sermon; one Sunday lesson, that convicted me of my need for Christ. However, I can remember watching this incredible single mom raising four children, dealing with many difficulties, and yet displaying the love of Christ to a teenage boy she treated with the grace and love. Mrs. Tarkington was in my life for such a brief time, mere months, but I tell you now, that I have thought of her on an almost daily basis over the last 20 years or so.
One of the great thrills of my adult life came a few summers back. I had just been through a very difficult season in my life and somehow by the grace of God, my ole friend Jackie made a contact with me. She was a great encouragement to me during that time, but it made me think more about Mrs. Tarkington and I decided to go see her on a trip from Wisconsin to Indy. I found out she still attended that Baptist church and got word to her that I would join her for Sunday services. I was waiting in the lobby area when she came around the corner and she saw me. She walked up to me, and with the most mischievous grin said, GÇ£You put your hands in your pockets mister!GÇ¥
Full circle! How often do we get the grace in life to experience something like that? I sat next to her in church, just like so many years ago, and just soaked in her joy and grace! I left her that day a better man, just like all those years ago! I have been a pastor for over 20 years at that time and I was able to tell Mrs. Tarkington that everything I have been able to accomplish as a pastor was on her account. It was her influence that led me to Christ and she is my Spiritual Mom! She and my mom never metGǪuntil maybe a few days ago in heaven! I wonder what the stories are about now between my mom and Mrs. Tarkington?