Gerri’s Story: He Wanted Me to Find Him

Essentially an only child, Gerri grew up in Milwaukee. Her Mom’s family of Polish decent, lived on the south side of town, while she and her parents lived on the north side. Childhood entailed dreaming of cowboys and horses, paling around with a local buddy, and later in her teen years, relocating with her family to Shorewood – a rich neighborhood in which she felt she did not at all fit in. She remembers the transition from one school to another being very hard and full of tears. It wasn’t that the doctors’, lawyers’, and businessmens’ teens were mean to her – it was just that, they already had their friends and Gerri wasn’t one of them.

About a year or so after the move, a local girl befriended her though – her dad was a veterinarian and she had a great sense of humor and could make people really laugh. Gerri remembers going with her to football games, hopping on the city bus to go shopping, or simply just hanging out. It was nice to have a friend, and not to feel so lonely, especially since her parents were at a bad spot in their marriage and were heading toward divorce.

After high-school Gerri got a scholarship and went to a year of secretary school at Project Hall by Lake Michigan. Soon after that she was hired by a large manufacturing company as an office worker. She remembers being told to line up the seam in her nylons correctly and to wear white gloves to the interview. The location surrounding the company consisted of other manufacturing places, stock yards, and a brewery. It smelled funny, but it was a good job, and she remembers her boss as one of the nicest bosses anybody could ever have.

During her four years working there she joined one of five USO groups in Milwaukee at the time. She wanted something to do that was socially involved but that was safe. Though she lived with her roommate from school, things were still hard for her, especially internally. By that time her parents were going through a divorce and she felt like she was just plain surviving. Eventually her relationship with her parents also got worse and she remembers just wanting to be married, wanting a family, wanting really, a place to belong.

Eventually Gerri did marry – a navy man – but while he was on a ship during the Vietnam War he wrote to her saying that he thought she should divorce him (she never really understood why). Once he came back they remained married for a time. Jobs were hard to come by on the West Coast where they were living and so finding work was a struggle. At some point they decided to drive across the country to the East Coast where her husband could work for his father. But half way across the state, they stopped at a relative’s in Wisconsin and never finished their trip. Eventually Gerri’s husband left her and she put down her roots in the area. By then she had one son and another on the way.

It was difficult being a single mom without a vehicle, in need of work. She remembers during those years, trying to be the best mom she could be to her kids, and the wonderfully special provision of a vehicle from someone just wanting to help her out. She was able to work several different jobs then over the years, and somehow they made it work.

Though life continued to present its challenges, like another difficult situation with a man, more and more blessings began to spring up into her life, like the birth of a beautiful baby girl, the continued provision of housing and employment, and most significant of all – she came to know Christ.

Gerri says, “I remember times when I prayed to God, not really thinking He was going to listen, much less answer me, and then He would help us. Also, I found out that though bad stuff in life never stops happening until you go to Heaven, it’s not happening because God doesn’t love you, or because He doesn’t like you, but it’s because He’s trying to draw you to Himself. He wants you to know that He’s your everything and that He’s able to handle anything.”

She also says, “I had given up on myself, but God was always there trying to get my attention. All that stuff people call bad stuff – it got my attention. And God showed me He is here for me. He wanted me to find Him.”  

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Since Gerri found Christ, she says she has found healing, hope, friendship, and family through her relationship with God and the local church. She has many, many testimonies of little and big ways God has provided for her over the years and how He continues to provide for her. Also, her children have all grown and she now has several beautiful grandchildren in whom she delights very much and her face absolutely radiates the joy that comes from being and knowing she is loved and apart of His family.

Struggle. Protection. Loneliness. Provision. Redemption. These are the words that come to mind as I reflect on Gerri's story. You're a remarkable woman Gerri, and I thank you for sharing part of your life and your heart with me. 

Random Tidbits About Gerri:

-          Gerri saw the Beatles first appearance on American television

-          She learned to drive on one of the first Expressways – Expressways weren't crazy like they can be now

-          She has moved over 34 times during her lifetime

-          She loves to read and to cook