One of the wonderful things that I have discovered along the way of this ridiculous journey of mine is the gift of new friends to me. There is a lady at my church. Her name is Doris and she is the GREATEST woman. This lady is no stranger to pain. She has allowed God to use her pain to love others along the way. She is someone who just simply puts others before herself.
She stepped into my life right after my husband left and has become a vital part of it! She has loved my girls and quickly become the favorite lady in their life. Let me just tell you a little of what she has done for us....
Knowing that I had band practice to get ready for worship each week, she would come to my house, bring dinner for the girls, and take care of them so I could focus on ministry. She did this every single week, and every night that I would come home, she would have laundry going, cleaned, and the girls would be in bed. She made my load soooo much lighter!
I had the very best mother's day this year than i ever ever have had because of this lady! Doris lives by the James River and she took my girls down to the James River and they did a little photo shoot. On mother's day, I got a picture frame with four pictures of my beautiful girls. Doris had them write all over the back of the picture what I meant to them. It is the MOST precious gift that I think I've ever gotten.
Before I went on vacation this year, Doris sent me coupons and sent the girls some spending money. She also sent me some little encouraging booklets to keep in my purse with me. She is such a gift to me.
The reason that I wanted to write about her today is because Doris lost her mother last night to alzeheimers. On Friday night, I got a call from Doris to tell me that she was on her way to see her because she had taken a turn for the worse. In her selfless heart, Doris called me. She called me to encourage me to keep on. To keep influencing my girls. To stay strong despite my pain. She knew how hard it was for me suddenly raising my girls without a father. Here it was, her mother was dying, and Doris called to encourage me!!! I'm crying at the very idea of that thought. She is an absolute gift from God to me right now. I hope that I can be that kind of encouragement to someone else along the way. I want to learn to be selfless like Doris. To give of myself completely so that others may live. My prayer for you is that you have a Doris in your life. Everyone needs someone like her!
I love you with all of my heart Doris Birdsong! You are a shining example of God's love in this dark world.
No comments:
Post a Comment