I have decided it would be a grand idea if God could tag people for us.
Maybe a light that shines behind their head; or a big X on their hand; or a red sticker on their forehead.
The tag would be God's way of telling us to pay special attention to these people. We could make sure every hug was meaningful. Every word was captured in our memories. Every moment was cherished.
I know I am no different than you. We all have people in our lives who, once they are gone, we realize how significant they were to us. I just wish God could give us a little heads up.
Saturday, October 16, 2010
Friday, October 15, 2010
The Journey
5 states. 12 towns. 16 homes and 2 long hotel stays. That is where the journey of my life has taken me thus far.
When I close my eyes, a sea of faces runs through my mind. People that I've known, spent time with, did life with.
It is honestly amazing (someone needs to invent a new word with a similar meaning) to think of the places I have been, the people I have met, the journey I have experienced. Each place that life has taken us to and through, we sometimes look back and wonder, "Hmm. I wonder what that was for?" I believe in a mighty God and I believe that He takes us through life with great intent and purpose. I believe that everything we do is for a reason. And every place I have lived, every job I have had, it has all been for a purpose.
And in the last week I have known that if the only reason we spent 8 years in Harrisonville, Missouri was so that we could know Gloria Evers, then it was all worth it.
I could never do her justice in a blog; there are not adequate words. That is not an exaggeration, just truth.
Gloria made everyone feel like they were the most important one. If she was with you, she was WITH you. She asked questions about your life and then listened to your answer. Her soul was so gentle. And I know of no other human who loved God as much as she did.
Listening to a few people share at her funeral I realized something huge. Every story was how Gloria made that person feel important, how she was there for the big events, how she prayed exactly the right prayer for someone, how she spoke the right words at the right time. And for those who know Gloria, you know it is true when I say I would not describe her as overly ambitious or a real go-getter. And so I wondered how she could be in so many places at just the right time doing just the right thing. And the light bulb came on for me.
Most of us run around doing lots of things, trying to cram as much into one day as we possibly can. We are busy, busy, busy and hoping that if we keep at it we might just find ourselves in the right place at the right time once in a while.
That was not life for Gloria. Her life was lived step in step with the Holy Spirit. She waited, and when she sensed the Spirit leading her to do something, she just did it. THAT is how she affected so many lives in just 53 years. THAT is how she made every person feel important. THAT is how she was able to love so generously. She listened to the Holy Spirit. And if she felt the Spirit telling her that she was not supposed to do something, she had no problem telling you 'no.'
She inspires us all to be better. We are so, so much better for having known her. That is not meant to sound like a cliche. It is heartfelt. My life is richer because she loved me.
I don't really believe that our 8 years in Harrisonville were for the sole purpose of knowing Gloria. There was so much that happened during that time; it was a great time for our whole family. But if somehow it WAS only for that purpose, I would be at peace with that.
When I close my eyes, a sea of faces runs through my mind. People that I've known, spent time with, did life with.
It is honestly amazing (someone needs to invent a new word with a similar meaning) to think of the places I have been, the people I have met, the journey I have experienced. Each place that life has taken us to and through, we sometimes look back and wonder, "Hmm. I wonder what that was for?" I believe in a mighty God and I believe that He takes us through life with great intent and purpose. I believe that everything we do is for a reason. And every place I have lived, every job I have had, it has all been for a purpose.
And in the last week I have known that if the only reason we spent 8 years in Harrisonville, Missouri was so that we could know Gloria Evers, then it was all worth it.
I could never do her justice in a blog; there are not adequate words. That is not an exaggeration, just truth.
Gloria made everyone feel like they were the most important one. If she was with you, she was WITH you. She asked questions about your life and then listened to your answer. Her soul was so gentle. And I know of no other human who loved God as much as she did.
Listening to a few people share at her funeral I realized something huge. Every story was how Gloria made that person feel important, how she was there for the big events, how she prayed exactly the right prayer for someone, how she spoke the right words at the right time. And for those who know Gloria, you know it is true when I say I would not describe her as overly ambitious or a real go-getter. And so I wondered how she could be in so many places at just the right time doing just the right thing. And the light bulb came on for me.
Most of us run around doing lots of things, trying to cram as much into one day as we possibly can. We are busy, busy, busy and hoping that if we keep at it we might just find ourselves in the right place at the right time once in a while.
That was not life for Gloria. Her life was lived step in step with the Holy Spirit. She waited, and when she sensed the Spirit leading her to do something, she just did it. THAT is how she affected so many lives in just 53 years. THAT is how she made every person feel important. THAT is how she was able to love so generously. She listened to the Holy Spirit. And if she felt the Spirit telling her that she was not supposed to do something, she had no problem telling you 'no.'
She inspires us all to be better. We are so, so much better for having known her. That is not meant to sound like a cliche. It is heartfelt. My life is richer because she loved me.
I don't really believe that our 8 years in Harrisonville were for the sole purpose of knowing Gloria. There was so much that happened during that time; it was a great time for our whole family. But if somehow it WAS only for that purpose, I would be at peace with that.
Friday, October 8, 2010
The Life of a Pastor's Wife
Not to offend anyone, but honestly, very few people on this earth truly understand the life of a pastor's wife. No one really gets how much pressure our husbands are under; what they feel, the burden they carry for their sheep; the attacks they come under. And truthfully, we don't expect you to understand it.
But I was lucky enough in this life to find someone who did understand. She understood because she was one, too. Gloria. She was my pastor's wife for 8 years. More importantly, she's been my friend for 12 years. And now she is where her heart has longed to be for such a long time....with her Father. This blog is my incompetent attempt to honor her life.
Gloria hated mornings. But she was gracious enough to get up early for our many shopping trips so that I could be back home in time to pick the kids up from school. It was typical for me to pull up in her driveway and have her come out with creases still on her cheek because she had only been out of bed for 10 minutes.
We spent many birthdays together. We shopped at our bargain spots, had lunch, and talked endlessly. I loved our shopping trips because Gloria shared my love for a good bargain. But she was such a good talker and a good listener. So stinking wise. I knew that whatever she said was going to be golden, and I could trust it and cling to it.
She loved singing John Denver and The Carpenters with me. I don't have many friends who will do that.
She hated thank you notes. If she gave a gift it was usually quickly followed by something like, "Please don't send me a thank you note. I know you appreciate the gift." She hated thank you notes because she was so bad at remembering to send one. Not that anyone cared. It was a funny thing about her.
Gloria loved playing Scrabble. She loved it so much that she figured out how to play alone. And she was a great competitor for me in the Scrabble category. Only one other friend proved to be so great a challenge, Sara Steinmetz. I loved our Scrabble games together.
Gloria loved diet Coke, and reading, and finding old books at the resale shops. She loved to decorate and had such a gift for it. When she came to Illinois to visit for a few days, she and I spent a day hitting all the resale shops in my town. She gathered the items as I watched in awe. In my head I didn't know how she was going to piece them all together. But she did it beautifully. My kitchen cabinets were bare on the top and Gloria turned them into something cozy and homey. I love that her touch is present in my home.
Our families spent a lot of time together. We went out to lunch many Sundays. We had them to our house to share meals, and we shared many in their home as well. I remember laughter between us. Lots and lots of laughter. One Sunday over dinner at Longhorn Steakhouse, she told a story about when her daughter Naomi was very small and they had company over. I don't remember all of the details of her story, but I do remember her saying that Naomi was in the bathroom yelling, "I finished!" over and over again because she had finished her business and needed some help :) As we all finished our meal that day, my husband Jerry got up to go to the bathroom, which was only a few steps from our table. In a few minutes we heard a noise coming from the direction of the bathroom. It was loud and as we listened, we realized it was Jerry yelling, "I finished!" We all laughed hard, but I know Gloria laughed the hardest that day. "I finished" has become a tag line that we repeat often.
Gloria was a good listener for many. A good, true friend. She was kind. And thoughtful. Creative. And oh my, what a voice. I once described her voice to someone as "it sounds like angels are singing." And now I picture her, singing face to face with Jesus. Oh the joy that must be flooding her soul. My heart is so happy for her.
When we left Harrisonville, Gloria refused to tell me goodbye. I remember her hugging me and I know she was fighting tears as she said, "I'm not going to tell you goodbye. I am just going to say 'See you later' because I know I will see you again."
We have been back to visit many times since we left Harrisonville. And Gloria was right, I did see her many times later. And she has even been to Illinois a couple times since then.
And for today my heart can not bear to say goodbye, so I say...
See you later Gloria. I love you.
But I was lucky enough in this life to find someone who did understand. She understood because she was one, too. Gloria. She was my pastor's wife for 8 years. More importantly, she's been my friend for 12 years. And now she is where her heart has longed to be for such a long time....with her Father. This blog is my incompetent attempt to honor her life.
Gloria hated mornings. But she was gracious enough to get up early for our many shopping trips so that I could be back home in time to pick the kids up from school. It was typical for me to pull up in her driveway and have her come out with creases still on her cheek because she had only been out of bed for 10 minutes.
We spent many birthdays together. We shopped at our bargain spots, had lunch, and talked endlessly. I loved our shopping trips because Gloria shared my love for a good bargain. But she was such a good talker and a good listener. So stinking wise. I knew that whatever she said was going to be golden, and I could trust it and cling to it.
She loved singing John Denver and The Carpenters with me. I don't have many friends who will do that.
She hated thank you notes. If she gave a gift it was usually quickly followed by something like, "Please don't send me a thank you note. I know you appreciate the gift." She hated thank you notes because she was so bad at remembering to send one. Not that anyone cared. It was a funny thing about her.
Gloria loved playing Scrabble. She loved it so much that she figured out how to play alone. And she was a great competitor for me in the Scrabble category. Only one other friend proved to be so great a challenge, Sara Steinmetz. I loved our Scrabble games together.
Gloria loved diet Coke, and reading, and finding old books at the resale shops. She loved to decorate and had such a gift for it. When she came to Illinois to visit for a few days, she and I spent a day hitting all the resale shops in my town. She gathered the items as I watched in awe. In my head I didn't know how she was going to piece them all together. But she did it beautifully. My kitchen cabinets were bare on the top and Gloria turned them into something cozy and homey. I love that her touch is present in my home.
Our families spent a lot of time together. We went out to lunch many Sundays. We had them to our house to share meals, and we shared many in their home as well. I remember laughter between us. Lots and lots of laughter. One Sunday over dinner at Longhorn Steakhouse, she told a story about when her daughter Naomi was very small and they had company over. I don't remember all of the details of her story, but I do remember her saying that Naomi was in the bathroom yelling, "I finished!" over and over again because she had finished her business and needed some help :) As we all finished our meal that day, my husband Jerry got up to go to the bathroom, which was only a few steps from our table. In a few minutes we heard a noise coming from the direction of the bathroom. It was loud and as we listened, we realized it was Jerry yelling, "I finished!" We all laughed hard, but I know Gloria laughed the hardest that day. "I finished" has become a tag line that we repeat often.
Gloria was a good listener for many. A good, true friend. She was kind. And thoughtful. Creative. And oh my, what a voice. I once described her voice to someone as "it sounds like angels are singing." And now I picture her, singing face to face with Jesus. Oh the joy that must be flooding her soul. My heart is so happy for her.
When we left Harrisonville, Gloria refused to tell me goodbye. I remember her hugging me and I know she was fighting tears as she said, "I'm not going to tell you goodbye. I am just going to say 'See you later' because I know I will see you again."
We have been back to visit many times since we left Harrisonville. And Gloria was right, I did see her many times later. And she has even been to Illinois a couple times since then.
And for today my heart can not bear to say goodbye, so I say...
See you later Gloria. I love you.
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