Meet My Beautiful Friend: Leslie Dawn Partain

Meet my friend Leslie Dawn Partain.  Leslie is more than just a friend. As I have mentioned before, I am disabled due to a massive stroke five years ago. Therefore, I am totally dependent on the care of others for my activities of daily living.

Leslie is my caregiver while my husband, John, is at work.  Leslie makes me think of Mary Magdalene (no she isn't a prostitute!!LOL.) However, like Mary Magdalene, Leslie met Jesus and her life has never been the same!

As with all of us, Leslie came into her relationship with Jesus carrying "baggage "from her past like we all do. But Jesus sees past the stuff of our past and offers mercy and redemption from our "baggage."  Leslie has received that mercy and redemption, like Mary Magdalene. And also like Mary, she has become one of His faithful followers and disciples.

Mary Magdalene followed Jesus almost everywhere He went in His ministry, serving Him anyway needed.  That is my friend Leslie's desire, to serve her Redeemer Jesus in any way needed.  In Luke 7:38 is the beautiful story recounting Mary Magdalene’s deep love for Jesus.  She, in her love and devotion to Jesus, came to the place where He was having dinner. To show her love, devotion and gratitude to Jesus, she opened a bottle of expensive perfume and poured it on Jesus' feet as an anointing.  She then dried his feet with her hair. This perfume wasn't just something she ordered from Avon. It was worth about one year's wages.

Now, Leslie Dawn Partain doesn't have anything that extravagant to offer the Lord, but what she offers Jesus is everything that she does have. She has given herself to Him to use however He desires, and she has given her children that she is rearing to know, love and serve Him.

She teaches them the Word of God. I failed to mention that Leslie was a teen Mom and is still single, raising her four children virtually alone. But she is not alone. Jesus is right there with her, giving her all the grace and strength she needs to handle all that she must. That is another reason that she, like Mary Mag devotes her life to Him.

Leslie defines true beauty as being "trustworthy and gentle, kind, loving and faithful, and hardworking with good moral values. She also believes that beauty is revealed in how a woman treats others. She feels she has these qualities plus, she says, "I am hardworking." Leslie says that she would like to have more patience and confidence to step out and help others.  

Leslie would like to model herself after Queen Esther because, "she knew that God was her ultimate ruler and that God is in control no matter what seems to be happening."  Queen Esther stepped out and was brave, acting with wisdom and integrity. She knew that God was with her and that she was a chosen vessel.

That’s my beautiful friend, Leslie Dawn Partain.

For more about Esther, see former post: Meet my friend Cathy Owens