Standing Near the Cross: Kaitlin Patterson Smith
Take up thy cross and follow Me,"
I heard my Master say;
”I gave My life to ransom thee, Surrender your all today." Wherever He leads I'll go, Wherever He leads I'll go,
I'll follow my Christ who loves me so,
Wherever He leads I'll go.
-B.B. McKinney
Gina and I met Kaitlin, now Kaitlin Patterson Smith, the year our son, Will, left for college at Liberty University in Lynchburg, Virginia. Each semester, we attempted to make a trip to see Will at Liberty. And on these trips, we encouraged Will to invite a few of his new college friends to dinner on our dime. After all, what college kid has enough money to eat out?! And that is how we met Kaitlin. The first time I met her, I picked her out to be Will’s wife! Now, don’t get the idea that I shared this with Will; but from the first time I met her, I knew she was the one for Will. And for you to know, she has NEVER disappointed me!
Kaitlin sometimes reminds me of Gina. She is strong-willed, determined, enthusiastic, and genuinely caring. Kaitlin is also a true leader; in fact she is a leader of leaders. Her friends and family all look to her for wisdom, guidance, and counsel. Kaitlin demonstrates the true life of Christ - she is a servant. However, don’t let the word servant mislead you; Kaitlin is resolute, decisive, and highly convictional in her love for Jesus, Will and her children.
Pictured: Kaitlin, Patrice (Mom), Karlee & Kelly (sisters)
In addition to all this, Kaitlin is a kind and tender wife and mother. She loves Will and adores her children. And they adore her as well. Kaitlin is a gentle daughter to her mom and friend to her sisters. I am grateful to Jesus for bringing her into our lives. Because of Kaitlin, our family is enriched.
However, more than any of that, Kaitlin is standing by the cross of Jesus, drawing near to Him. I suspect you know this, but just to remind you, every spiritual leader must learn a challenging leadership lesson: leaders must first be followers. I suspect this is a lesson that Kaitlin learned early in her Christian life; for as long as I have known her, she has been a committed follower and a bold leader of Christ. Her walk with Christ brings to mind the hymn, Wherever He Leads I’ll Go.
Pictured: Kaitlin and Pat (Dad) in 2014
Let me tell you how I see Kaitlin standing by the cross. She is standing by the cross, adjusting to a life of change. Just a few short years ago, Kaitlin had a great loss. At that time she and Will had one child, our granddaughter, Elizabeth. In addition, Kaitlin was pregnant with their second child, Patrick. On the Friday following Thanksgiving, Kaitlin received a call that her father had suddenly passed away. Kaitlin adored her dad, and Pat, her dad, adored her. To be honest this was the first real crisis I have ever seen Kaitlin navigate. Sure, she had other ups and downs in life, but this was different. We are a few years on the other side of that loss today, and Kaitlin has adjusted well and trusted Jesus along the journey. During that time, she stood by the cross of Jesus, leaned on Him, and experienced His mercy and grace.
But she is standing by the cross of Jesus another way. Our son has been serving in church ministry since graduating from Liberty, but it has only been in recent years that Will has sensed God’s calling on him to be a pastor. Now, mind you, this is not what Kaitlin imagined. In her own words, she never saw herself as a pastor’s wife. However, she is drawing near to the cross of Christ and is trusting God to embrace the role of pastor’s wife, spiritual counselor, and mentor. This means she is trusting her husband and children to God for His work, regardless of where He leads them. Yet, I can see how God has all along been preparing her for this mammoth step in her spiritual journey. Kaitlin is standing by the cross, drawing near to Jesus, and willingly saying to Him (like the hymn), “Wherever You lead, I’ll go.”
Consider the words from the hymn writer, B.B. McKinney and use these words to draw near to God today.
"Take up thy cross and follow Me," I heard my Master say;
"I gave My life to ransom thee, Surrender your all today."
Wherever He leads I'll go, Wherever He leads I'll go,
I'll follow my Christ who loves me so, Wherever He leads I'll go.
He drew me closer to His side, I sought His will to know,
And in that will I now abide, Wherever He leads I'll go.
Wherever He leads I'll go, Wherever He leads I'll go,
I'll follow my Christ who loves me so, Wherever He leads I'll go.
It may be thru' the shadows dim, Or o'er the stormy sea,
I take my cross and follow Him, Wherever He leadeth me.
Wherever He leads I'll go, Wherever He leads I'll go,
I'll follow my Christ who loves me so, Wherever He leads I'll go.
My heart, my life, my all I bring To Christ who loves me so;
he is my Master, Lord, and King, Wherever He leads I'll go.
Wherever He leads I'll go, Wherever He leads I'll go,
I'll follow my Christ who loves me so, Wherever He leads I'll go.”
As you read about the influential women in my life, I suspect you are thinking of someone very special in your life that you want to honor. I encourage you to reach out to that person, write her a letter, send the text, make the call. If you do, I’d love to hear about it. Send me an email and let me know about the woman who influenced you to stand near the cross of Christ!
Next week, I will introduce you to another mom that is standing near the cross - my daughter, Anna Wilson.