Magnet Quotes
"i am still learning." - Michelangelo
"It's not the
years in your life that count, it's the life in your years." - Abraham
Lincoln
Trying to simplify surroundings and live uncluttered with less
stuff, we have slowly been cleaning out, throwing away, donating, discovering
forgotten items and reorganizing the remains. The refrigerator still displays
mementos from trips and sporting events, grandchildren pictures that bring a
smile every day, held in places by many mismatched magnets. Two magnet quotes
listed above came home with me from the classroom and still serve to remind me
of important quests. What am I learning, still? What kind of life is filling my
years?
A cousin's daughter entertains and encourages with her Facebook
posts. One of her encouragements was to commit random acts of kindness at
Christmastime and send her stories to go in Madison's memory stocking to be read
and shared. Some years ago she gave birth to a baby girl named Madison, a baby
who did not survive. Out of this sad event, she has been motivated to follow a
life of service in a career as a social worker. She recently graduated from
college and was accepted to graduate school to keep moving toward this
professional path. Romans 8:28 And we know that God causes all things to work
together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to
His purpose. That verse does not diminish the pain of tragic events. We can all
acknowledge that bad stuff happens in this world. But, in time, we can see how
God works in connected events to bring us out of problems to a place of
goodness.
Christmas deadline was not met, but here is my story for
Madison's stocking.
There is an older lady I met at church. One of my
first duties as a Stephens Minister was to wait up front at the altar at the end
of a Sunday service for those coming forward with questions and prayer requests.
This lady came to me one Sunday and we prayed for her friend's son who was being
deployed to Afghanistan. Her look was a little disheveled and unkempt but she
seemed to have a kind heart. At many events that required volunteers, I saw her
there: packing lunches to feed kids during the summer, packing boxes of treats
for soldiers and college kids, teaching crafts in Vacation Bible School, prayer
services, Bible Studies. During these encounters I found out that she was a
former teacher of Carrollton-Farmers Branch ISD where I grew up going to school.
I learned that she lives alone in a small apartment near the church and walks
everywhere instead of driving. I learned that she works the night shift stocking
shelves at Walmart. I wondered what happened in her life to bring her to her
current state of looking like a homeless person? How were our lives so
different?
Vision of her as a changed person kept creeping into my mind.
For Madison's memory stocking, I wanted to take her to a beauty shop and get her
hair styled. On the other hand, I didn't want to offend her by suggesting that
she might need to improve her appearance. Nearing Christmas I had prayed that if
God really wanted me to do the make over offer that I would cross paths with her
at church that day. Not seeing her before, during or after the main service
where she usually attends, I thought, "OK, God, cross that off the list." Just
as I was about to walk out the door to the parking lot a door to a storage room
opened and there she was standing right in front of me. "OK, God, we're back on
this!" I stammered my offer and her eyes were shining as she grasped my hands
and said yes, she would love to go get a new hairdo. She doesn't have a phone
but she gave me her address and we agreed to meet the next Tuesday for an outing
to a nearby salon.
No answer to my many knocks on her door at our planned
time. As I was writing a note to leave on her door, a neighbor came out to tell
me he had not seen her in a few days and he seemed to know her regular schedule.
This news worried me but the neighbor turned out to be the father of a good
friend so I asked him to call his son and let him know if she showed up safely.
We got a call that night to tell that her daughter who lives in a different town
had come unexpectedly to take her for a visit. The hair stylist who had given me
the appointment is also a friend. She understood the situation and agreed to be
on call the same time for the next few weeks whenever I could meet her and bring
her in to the shop. It takes a village!
It was January before we made our
Christmas outing to the beauty salon. My friend, the stylist, took such tender
care in shampooing and talking to her about her preferred style. She made her
thin silvery strands look soft and pretty; she dipped the weathered hands in the
paraffin bath and gently folded them in the plastic cover, pealing them back to
reveal skin that was thin and soft. We learned that it had been necessary for
her to leave the teaching profession earlier than anticipated as she had
suffered a brain aneurysm in her early 40's. We learned she had grown up in the
Valley and had moved to Fort Worth after high school to attend Texas Wesleyan
College. We learned her husband lives in a care facility in a different town. We
learned that her daughter also had a rare brain trauma as a girl and
participated in studies by top doctors in Houston. We listened to many stories
while the scissors and blow dryers provided background noise. The soundtrack to
a life.
I still see this lady at various church gatherings. I have
stopped by her apartment to visit and driven her home in bad weather. I have
taken her food in covered containers, extras from our home plenty and leftovers
from church event meals. Her hair has gone back to its previous limp style. She
must share my same challenge of being unable to recreate the salon look with my
own brush at home. When she opens the door of her apartment, used plastic
bottles and shreds of old newspapers drift out the door, but a smile that
reveals a sweet spirit spreads across an aging face and there is
light.
God sent me to get a woman a haircut. He intended for me to be her
friend.
Lesson learned. Life in the years.
Psalm 117:2 For his
lovingkindness is great toward us, And the truth of The Lord is everlasting.
Praise be to God.
