A friend I’ve never known, yes, that was her. A woman, advanced in years, a friend to the family, one that I had never met before. She was wonderful, captivating, a story teller, the warm-grandmother type, and she seemed to love me the moment we met. You’ve heard the old phrase on being kindred spirits, this was her.
She was a kindred spirit . . . in every way.
When she arrived as our dinner guest that night, she walked through an open front door, and the first thing she did was grab her long skirt and twirl it around fast, then she laughed and introduced herself. She was so full of life! How wonderful!
Instantaneously she fell right into place among us. She settled in the chair next to me…there was just something about her that made it seem like she had been in the family for years. She was the softest woman I have ever met and her presence spoke the peace that was upon her. Immediately I caught the reason behind her overflowing delight and the radiance that surrounded her. She was filled with the love and presence of God. She had a fire seemingly shut up in her bones, just as Jeremiah in the Bible.
It didn’t matter what we were talking about, whether it be food, old memories, funny stories, anything: through every conversation the Word of God was literally just flowing out of her. It wasn’t cliché, it wasn’t old quoted “Thee, Thy, Thou” verses, it was the most genuine heart and love that flowed through everything we talked about.
Because her heart was filled with Him, He was what flowed out of her.
I sat there and as each moment passed, every moment I spent talking with her made me adore her even more. I want to be like this woman. . . soft: because the beauty of God has painted her, wise: because she hears and lives by His words, and loving: because her heart was set on her Savior.
What captured me even more, was the fact that she had such a burden and a heart for this generation. She said to me, I truly believe it is an honor, a honor, to be alive right now, at this time, there is so much work to be done, and I am honored that I am here so God can use me: right now.