The Reason I Mime
On January 19th, I celebrated my 5th birthday! No, not my biological birthday (I’m 53), but my God-given-second-chance birthday!For those of you reading this that have been at the door of death and God miraculously moved and caused that door to stay sealed, then you know what I mean!On January 19, 2003, a beautiful, sunny winter day here in the south, I was in church; up delivering a speech in remembrance of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Then out of nowhere I started to get a headache. I tried to finish the speech, but the headache got progressively worse and then my vision started to blur. At this time, I knew something was drastically wrong. So in the middle of my speaking, I turned to exit the sanctuary. The next thing I remember is people surrounding me asking if I was all right. Evidently, I had fainted as I tried to exit the sanctuary. My next clear memory was several hours later when I awoke in the intensive care section of the hospital.
In the space of less than 5 minutes my whole world had changed. I had gone from feeling terrific to laying in a hospital bed many miles from home and listening to my doctor give my dismal prognosis.
It turns out that I had something called an arteriovenous malformation (AVM/similar to an aneurysm) in the brain. Never in my life had I even heard of an AVM! It is a malformation of a vein and my doctor said I had probably had it since birth. Anyway, mine was sitting almost directly on top of my spinal cord. My doctor only gave me a 20% chance of surviving the surgery. In fact, at first he was not going to even attempt the surgery. But thank God, the Lord directed him to change his mind and try the surgery.
So as I laid there thinking about how quite possibly this could be the end of my earthly life, I started to put “my affairs” in order.
As they took me into the operating room that Tuesday morning, I remember reciting the 23rd Psalm over and over.
My next remembrance was of the nurse asking me my name and stuff like that. That’s when it dawned on me that I was alive! That God had given me a second chance at life!!!!!
For the next 6 months, my recuperation was up and down. After spending an initial 2 weeks in the hospital, I was in and out of the hospital 3 more times. I went from a size 18 to a size 10 because I had absolutely no appetite. Spent a week on the psychiatric wing of the hospital because the doctors couldn’t find a physical reason for my loss of appetite.
But through it all, God has been SO good to me! I could go on and on and on about all the things God has brought me through during these past 5 years! My doctor even calls me his “miracle patient”. And some of the other doctors I see now, are like stunned and unbelieving (even though it is in black and white in my medical report) that I am sitting in front of them! But that just shows what Dr. Jesus can do!!!!!!
So this is the reason I mime! During my first months of recuperation, I asked God for a special way to reach out and minister to others as a way of thanking HIm for sparing my life. Miming was something I never really thought much of before and so it was a complete surprise when this answer came. Of course, being human, I questioned, because I just couldn’t see me getting up before people doing something like miming. But the same answer persisted and I knew that is what I had to do.
My first mime was to the song “Safe in the Arms of Jesus” which has become my testimony song.
So again, why do I mime? I truly believe that this is a ministry God has given me—–a way of reaching out to people for Him and a way of thanking Him for my many, many blessings!
That is my prayer each time I mime that God will get the glory and that He will work through me to touch someone’s life.
This “gift” of miming has also brought people into my life that I probably wouldn’t have ever met. On in particular is my sister in mime, Gena Wells. She has been so supportive and inspirational during the time I have known her. I know by placing her in my life that is another conformation that this is what God has for me to do.
So one more time, why do I mime? The answer was and always will be: To give God the praise and glory and to let Him work through me to touch someone’s life!
To God be the glory!!
Cynthia Russell
Technorati Tags: Mime, Ministry, Testimonial
Mrs. Russell,
Thanks for sharing your story. God is truly good all the time. Your blessing is very inspiring and I’m glad I read it all the way through. I too have asked God to use me as a vessel to be a blessing to others. I wanted to know what ministry does God want me to get involved in? I have many testimonies as well and cannot tell them all. I find myself moving my hands and making motions of praise to God each time I listen or hear Gospel music. I get so caught up in praise it doesn’t matter where I’am, in my kitchen, my car and even at my desk. My oldest daughter always seem to catch me when I ‘m having a moment of praise and she always ask “Ma what are you doing?” LOL…..About seven months ago I was moved to speak with young lady at my church who’s already doing mime and she has been encouraging to me and we are starting a Mime minstry at our church. I have gone through that doubting stage where I tell myself “I can’t do this” I’m too fat, too old to be trying to do some of those moves I see other mimers do. Well I must say, I’m encouraged today just from reading your testimony and I will continue to look to God for guidance and give Him all the praise and Glory!
God Bless!
blej
God called me many years ago to the mime ministry and I fought the calling for awhile, but finally I moved my flesh out of the way and just let God do the rest. God has aloud me to me some wonderful people and he has also place people in my life to keep me on the straight and narrow. I been asked why do I mime and I would say to reach God’s people and to show them just how good He is. A few years back my husband thought I should have a webpage and I am glad he created it. I meant Cynthia on my page and I remember her asking for my help, but she was my help! God created you and He will guide you everytime you go out and minister to His people. Just remember it is all about God and He will never forsake You!
God Bless all..
Gena Wells
Gina,
The sites are beautiful and I enjoyed the video today at my desk at work. (Not on company time!) I know that you have such a pure heart for ministry and a deep love for the Lord. It has been an honor to watch your ministry blossom even though we have never oficially met. i will get out to watch you one of these days. I will pray for you and your ministry because I know your desire is to see souls saved by the mercy of Jesus Christ. God bless you.
Rhonda Robertson