| It's Friday ... It must be Bridge! © Betty Sue Eaton |
| When we experience a tragedy, like the death of a loved one, we wonder how, even in God's name, we can possibly survive it and go on. All we have to do for an answer is look around at friends, acquaintances, associates to see how they are doing just that. I have had the great fortune to meet some of those people and have learned even greater truths from them. One such friend and fellow youth mentor, quite unknown by her, showed me what real grace in the face of overwhelming tragedy looks like! But I didn't seek her out. God placed her in my path and life, I truly believe, for His purposes. I also believe that He puts us where He wants us to be WHEN He wants us there. Jo S. was a very unique, wonderful lady, and when one first meets her, one would never think there was any pain or grief of any kind in her life. She had a radiant face, lovely coiffed hair, and astonishingly blue eyes. I first met her in a Wednesday Bible Study class about five years ago. That was before my husband and I had made new friends in our little village, and I was feeling a little sad and lonely in a new place with a different culture than where we had spent the last 16 years. Retired and rather at loose ends, I decided one morning to attend the church's 10 o'clock Bible class in order to learn more about God's word and the Episcopal church, but as much to meet new people with whom I shared a common interest. That became a regular routine as I came to town each Wednesday to shop for groceries and attend Bible study. Jo was one of the ladies there and I was immediately taken by her charming manner. We attended the class and became friends although she lived in town and I lived far out in the country. One morning, I stopped her as she was leaving and asked her if she knew where I could get in touch with the Shivwits Indian Authority with the thought of tutoring some children. She was totally taken aback as she confessed to me that she had been in prayer that morning that the Lord would send her another helper at the Shivwits Community Center. She and several other adults mentored and tutored about fourteen children ranging in ages from 8 through 15 years on Tuesday and Thursday afternoons from 3 to 5:30. A number of the mentors had to take leaves of absence and she was becoming desperate for help. She put me in touch with the coordinator of the project, another lady from the church, who told me that their church, in fact, was the founder and sponsor of the program. During the mentoring experience from February through May, Jo and I became very good friends and she asked me to please come by to have coffee one morning. When I arrived at her home after Bible study, she was waiting with hot coffee and a dish of small cookies. Then she began telling me about her life. Her husband had died about three years earlier after a life of alcoholism, and her son was dying of an inoperable brain tumor. She had moved to there because of the wonderful warm climate and the beauty of the desert sandstone mountains in the area. She related that she didn't want to spend her life continually mourning her husband and son, and she had taken the position of second lead instructor in the Shivwits program five years before. Further, she was very active in her church's activities, served as a Gray Lady at the local hospital, and belonged to a regular Friday bridge club with other ladies from her church and neighborhood. They planned luncheons out on bridge day and greatly enjoyed each other's companionship. So her schedule looked something like this: Monday- Gray Ladies Auxiliary at the hospital; Tuesday and Thursday- mentoring and tutoring at the Shivwits Community Center; Wednesday- morning Bible Study and evening services at Grace Episcopal Church, and Friday- bridge with the ladies and lunch out. Weekends: Saturday- grocery shopping and beauty shop, and Sunday morning and evening services at church. When she related to me how busy she was, I was astounded and said I didn't know how she kept the pace up! I was several years her junior and I couldn't do it! She told me it was by design; that way, she always had something to get up and go out to do. But sometimes, she confided, she just needed to talk to a friend. Later, she developed severe bronchitis and chest pain; and taking the doctor's advice, she asked if I would take her place for the next week as refreshment coordinator at the center. In addition to going by the school for the girls, she prepared snacks, served them, and then took the drink bottles home and washed them for the next time! Then she told me how old she was and I was completely floored! She was going to have her 84th birthday in a few weeks! This beautiful lady was so filled with God's grace that she couldn't help but transmit it to any and all who met her and learned to love her as I did. If anyone would have a reason to be sad and remote with grief, she would! But instead, she stayed close to the Lord and planned her days leaving no time to wallow in self-pity. Surely if there are stars given in heaven for our crowns, Jo will have a galaxy of them! I can never recall Jo without also thinking, "What day is this? Oh, it's Friday, I can't drop by today; it's bridge day!" |
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