When she was three years old, she and her mom (Lynda) went to visit Grampa Mills, Lynda's father who pastored a church in Ottawa. Grampa asked Lynda to preach! She felt totally inadequate for the experience, but as a result of her message, five children gave their hearts to Jesus! Meanwhile, little Marilee sat in the pew by herself. At one point her mom looked down to see that Marilee had taken the New Testament out of her purse and was biting on its spine. From the pulpit, she could do nothing about it! A few months ago, after Mom passed away, Marilee found that same New Testament, tooth marks and all, still in Mom's purse, and now she carries it in her own.
When Marilee herself was a young mother, her innovative pastor stood one Sunday among stacks of Bibles designed to guide readers through the entire Bible in a year. He told the congregation that he would give a Bible to anyone who would commit to read it through in a year. She took him up on the challenge and received a Bible. At first she read to fulfill her obligation, then to not disappoint the pastor. Eventually she read for the joy and power of the Word. That was over 30 years ago, and she continues to read through the Bible each year.
You might say she is still sinking her teeth into God's Word.
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