God's Resolute Presence
Yesterday, I experienced the resolute presence of God's spirit amidst 10 lovely women.
My friend Sergio Perez was overcome by the effects of glioblastoma at 4:25 am on Saturday March 18th. He left as one that was well loved by his family and many many 4th grade students. Little voices, hands and souls whom he invested in and nurtured in a manly way. His way was gentle but firm and assuring. He was interested in people -perhaps because he knew that each one of them was of great value in the Kingdom of God. He had an unusual gift of remembering names and even decades later could recall them when meeting his former students on the street.
I only got to know him better in the last year, more his family really, but his imprint upon them was indelible. Their beloved Sergio struggled against this insidious disease for 6 months before it took him. During that time the amount of cards and support monies that came in was staggering. His family covered the living room walls with well wishes from people who loved him. I have had the privilege of watching the hands and feet of Jesus show themselves from the community through not only astonishing donations, but also through meals, phone calls, cookies, dates with the girls, gardening, plumbing, electrical work, etc. I am left happily stunned. God has supported this family in a unusual way, with grace-filled miracles sprinkled generously.
We gathered Saturday morning, only 3 hours after Sergio passed. Taline had planned for the girls to come and help, so she drove them over, Nairi still in her pjs. We fawned over them like mother hens. "Hail to the artists!" I called out as they came in. We built their artistic talents up. They were eager to tell us who had drawn which pictures, what the art represented, how many 1st, 2nd places they had won with their art. Then we incorporated them into the assembly line. Adrine was counting envelopes, Nairi was transferring folded cards to the packaging table, and all the while our women, knowing the Perez's great loss, spoke with them gently about their Baba and loved on them.
Bev, who's school principal husband suffered with Alzheimers the last 13 years of his life.
Vivian, who lost her husband to cancer when she was 55.
Nancy, a single gal who had recently lost her own parents and serves as a school counsellor. She took up the work station next to Taline and was able to listen and converse quietly with her.
Grace who had come through her own near death experience, guided Nairi's hand as she wanted to cut with the paper cutter. When Vivian, the school nurse, took on that station and Nairi still wanted to 'help', Vivian quipped she didn't want of either of them hurt.And lastly Marty who is just the sweetest fun lady ever. She told me later:
When Nairi came by my "scoring station" I was so interested to ask her about the drawing with her family. I couldn't figure out who that fifth person was in the drawing. "That's my sister, my daddy, momma and me. I won 2nd prize of my costume." "Oh, and who is that person down here in the corner?
"That's the lady handing out the candy," she answered. Silly me, who would have thought to draw the lady handing out the candy?!
I am thinking that it was not by chance that God had moved these women to come today. The day when these girls needed love and grounded women who could minister.
When Nairi had to wait while the "quality controller" trimmed cards, her little 6 year old voice told us we needed to work faster! Hm.
Someone told me that Taline has steel in her backbone, and that it has served her well during this wearisome season. It appears Nairi has some of that in lesser degree. Adrine did the work of counting the packs of envelopes, and watching the process more quietly.
At one point, Nairi turned her head up and wanted to talk to me. I squatted down to her level, and listened as she told me that this morning she wanted to kiss her Baba, but his hands were cold and his feet were cold and his cheek was soft and squishy so she just kissed his forehead as her good bye. After her story she flitted outside with her sister to play with our dog, Oreo.
Taline and the girls accompanied me to my mother-in-law's house next door and practiced their sales presentation. Mary responded and bought 3 packs and gave them a generous tip. Sales had begun. Adrien quickly realized this was going to entail some math. Not a bad skill to launch her into. When back at our place, the workers also shelled out cash for their own set of cards. How's that? Volunteers to work and then they pay for the product. Now there is some good work ethic for you!
I got this note from Barbara,who had dropped by:
I'm in awe at God's timing for this opportunity to take place today, so the girls could be distracted in a very healthy way.
I believe this is what Holy work looks like. People caring about others, people who themselves have faced death or grave sickness and loss- squarely and know that God gives strength and cause to keep on living.
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