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Just Like Her By Lorelei Nettles There are some people who jump right into our lives and then there are those who enter quietly, but make a great impression.
remember the first day my family and I entered a church in a new area. We had just moved from another state and, although my husband had attended once, it was my first time to meet with this congregation.
We then entered the main hall and began to meet others in the congregation. I talked to someone there about the little lady I had just met in the entry. I couldn't remember her name, but I described her and told them she had said we must always give her a hug. They replied with, "Her name is Wilma, and that's just like her." As time passed, I realized that Wilma looked after a number of things for the church. She was not only in charge of assigning the greeters each week, but she reminded people to sign cards for the shut-ins and the ill. She bought groceries and supplies for the snack service when needed. She made sure we had drinks for the potluck dinners, etc. Of course, this was only how she served others in a formal way.
Wilma was a friend to all, and she made many strong bonds with people. Our family hadn't had a longstanding relationship with her, but we had formed a strong bond in the short time we had known her. This frail 80-year-old woman made you feel like you were important in her life and, in fact, you were. She once told me that no one at church knew me as well as she did, and she was proud of that. She found joy in knowing people and knowing them as well as they would allow.
Wilma was the type of woman whose presence sneaked into your life, the type of person that maybe you didn't at first expect to be close to. She had a soft, gravelly voice; and she would tell you like it was, no glossing things over. She had a thin, tight smile and a subtle wisdom about her. Her words didn't always sink in right away, but you would find yourself pondering her comments at a later time. Proverbs 27:17, tells us, "As iron sharpens iron, so a man sharpens the countenance of his friend." Wilma was the type of person who if she made friends with you and you moved away after only a few months, she would continue to stay in touch through phone calls or by e-mail. She had friends from all over and they all felt a special bond of one kind or another with her. She was peppy and full of energy and even when she was feeling down, she still had a hug and a smile to share with you. If only all people could find it within themselves to reach out to each and every person they meet along the way, wouldn't this world be a nicer place? Simply reaching out with the intent of trying to build a friendship can make a big difference in someone's life even if you don't see it. Proverbs 17:17 says, "A friend loves at all times," and Proverbs 18:24 says, "A man who has friends must himself be friendly." These are good things to remember. It is too easy to avoid others, and it is difficult especially if you are shy. But it doesn't take a lot of effort to reach out a hand and welcome someone for the first time, to give someone a little hug or to simply share a smile as you pass by. A friendship can begin with even a small gesture. Wilma died recently, and there is a hole in the hearts of her friends that her presence used to fill. While no one will ever be able to replace her, we can all be a bit more like her. We can learn the lesson of friendship she taught. We can reach out to those around us and in our own way become better friends, expecting little in return and making other people's lives a bit better. We know that we will see Wilma again some day, and I am sure she will greet all of her friends with a little hug. It was just like her. Copyright 2006 by United Church of God, an International Association All rights reserved. |
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Origin of article "Just Like Her"
Keywords: example hospitality good works
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