Remember how scary the appearance of the Wicked Witch of the West was in the Wizard of Oz? Out of a plume of red smoke stepped the green-faced, back-gowned witch portrayed by actress Margaret Hamilton. Her performance has terrified little kids for generations. “I’ll get you, my pretty, and your little dog, too.”  

All sorts of details have been published about her performance including the way she was terribly burned by the fire that surrounded her exit from Munchkinland. Much less has been written about her personal life, but in reality, she was nothing like the wicked witch. Many other actors have remarked about her kindness and generosity. She had been a schoolteacher before her acting career and continued her interest in children and education throughout her life even serving on the Beverly Hills Board of Education. She supported numerous charities. She was an active member of the Presbyterian church and the founder of Beverly Hills Presbyterian Preschool. There is an interview in which she talks about her faith in God. 

Does her faith surprise you? I really had to dig to get this information. Margaret Hamilton was a person who lived out her Christian faith, but didn’t make a display of doing so. She didn’t pose for pictures with a big Bible in hand. She expressed her faith in what she did. That’s something every Christian should do.

I wish I could have met Margaret Hamilton. I might have learned something about being a Christian from the Wicked Witch of the West. Thank you, dear lady.

Read 1 John 3:18 and remember: God loves YOU unconditionally.

Wayne