What two dear recently deceased friends have given me for Christmas!

Middle Age Moments

What two dear departed friends have taught me about Christmas 2011

With the sad news that an old friend, the kind that we sing about on New years Eve, "....keep the old...one is silver and the other's gold," died suddenly last Sunday, and with my son in law's grandmother's death on December 4th, my thoughts have turned to my other relationships in a renewed way. 

Grandma Rose (93 years young) loved large and deeply touched my life when she didn't need to pay me or my family any mind. You see, she was a step-grandmother and I only knew her for the last four years of her life; she was one who treated each person as if they were the most important person in the world.  And my other friend's life of continual and consistent devotion to God and others is almost unmatched by anyone else I know and I've know a lot of people of different faiths or simply good people. My family was part of those "others" for about a decade. Reflecting on these two women's lives has caused me to listen to my own and others' feelings more reflectively, give up time and my schedule to lend a hand and heart to family members going through very difficult times, recognize my own frailties and resist those judgmental and materialistic (especially this time of the year) thoughts that fly through my mind. I invite these ways of thinking and feeling to take up residence in my life right now. I contemplate how it is that my heart is touched and people all over have been changed by the two women's actions. These gifts of God leave me with a deep and abiding wonder and appreciation for the miraculous ways He brings the light of His love to a fallen creation. It reminds me of why the shepherds diligently searched until they found the long awaited and sought after Christ Child in the manger in Bethlehem. Wonder that can't be fully expressed in words but is felt deep down within the soul causing the heart and mind to become energized to love more fully, more unconditionally. After all the tangible gifts are opened and the goodies are eaten, I wonder if what most people will remember most of all is the love that was exchanged. Our tree isn't decorated yet, gifts still need to be bought, and meals need to be planned.Today is the 18th of December. But my heart is calm, my relationships are deepened, and the gifts those two amazing women left for me are doing something in my soul that's changing my legacy.

By what gift were you influenced most in Christmases past or during this Christmas season?

Happy Thanksgiving

Middle Age Minutes

It's holiday time again! It seems like it was forever ago to me that we celebrated Thanksgiving. Or is it that I don't remember too much about last year just because!? Well hopefully I'll remember this year because things are different around the Barrett house these days.

For starters, working part time since August of this year has allowed me time to reflect on the more important things in life. It didn't come easy though. It was difficult to let go of the full time career path I was on. Working outside of the home was supposed to only last till the last child graduated from college.  BUT 11 years or so after that milestone, I was still working. The salary was very good, after all; how did I get to the point that I made THAT much money??? It was rewarding in that regard, sometimes bordering on prideful. And, you know, it takes energy to manage money. Many lessons were learned there. In addition, the last three years at work had become very stressful causing extra energy just to survive in the job. After those three years (I'm slow to give in; sometimes tenacity isn't a good thing), three weeks away from the job on vacation, and an offer to work part time in a new capacity, I saw things in a renewed light. It took being away from the everyday demands and joys (yes, there were great times too) of the job, I saw and craved an opportunity to grow in a different way. I longed to get to know my kitchen again, my husband again, and my children again, AND to feel energized on my job again. AGAIN means many things which I am realizing each day. I've gotten to know the bread machine and sewing machine again, my husband's great company again and my children's (and grandchildren's) laughter, hopes and dreams more too. One thing I didn't realize I would feel so strongly again  is the pain that poor children experience each day; the pain that abused children feel. This is where my prayers are leading these days. Lord, during this "extra"time you've given me, please help me to help those children who need relief from pain. Show me where to use that "extra time again!"

True religion and undefiled is this to visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction and to keep oneself unspotted from the world. James 1:27.

So this Thanksgiving I am grateful for being able to let go of..... for more time with my family and friends, and the needy. There is so much more I've yet to discover again, but this Thanksgiving, I know I will have more time to relish each person who sits around our table of blessing.
Happy Thanksgiving!

Reflections from a friend's funeral

Middle Age Minutes

A friend, Claudette Cook, from our days at National Wesleyan Church, died last week. Or at least, her body gave in on December 31, 2010. The "homegoing" service was the best I've ever been to. It was a time of remembering Claudette's life and remembering why the rest of us are still here. Claudette was an overcomer of many problems that life threw her way. She was a fighter, visionary, and a pioneer. Her strong faith in Jesus Christ was echoed on the faces of almost 500 people both old and young, who came to pay tribute to her today, because she meant that much to each of us. She didn't have much of this world's goods nor did she care to stand out above anyone else but she left a legacy of love, hope, humility, and dignity that is priceless: worth far more than gold. One could see the imprint of her investment in the lives of her children, Janelle and Clive and the other 490 or so of us.  She was always teaching people to look to Jesus and never stop no matter what. That wisdom changed us and collectively we rejoiced to be a part of her legacy. I am blessed to be a part of that community.

But the real story here was not about Claudette, it was about God and his Kingdom. May His Kingdom come on earth as it is in heaven. Today, I got a glimpse of the fruit of God's work on earth through his servant over her lifetime and it brings me to my knees once again in firmer resolve to follow where He leads.

I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.
2 Timothy 4:7