by S. Murray

Created on: October 15, 2008

"The Woman I Met"

Once upon a time, I met a wonderful elderly woman. The lady was 82 and appeared to have worked very hard through out her life. She had age lines that crinkled when she smiled and it made her appear very kind.

Her hands were worn with age and much use. The woman herself was petite and gentle spirited. The English she spoke was broken yet we could still understand each other whenever we talked together.

Each time I saw her she always had a ready smile and a hug for me. All of the people who came and went in her household varied in age and relationship to her yet she never seemed to meet a stranger. Her door was always open to whoever needed a place to stay or food to eat. The idea of payment did not matter to her because she gave all she had to take care of others and feel needed in life.

The house she lives in is small, old and a little rickety yet it is clean and neat. No matter when you would visit her, she always would "wait" on you, to serve you as a guest. There are those in her life that try to help her so that life would be easier for her, but she would "give" away all of her creature comforts to anyone who said they had a need. Her willingness to give of her possessions, her time, her money and herself showed all those who knew her the true meaning of "unconditional love". Love to her was more important than anything anyone could possibly "buy" for her.

She worked all of her life to take care of others and by doing so, she has learned that the "things" of this world truly do not matter as much as the love you can give and receive. She continues to do for others even now at the age of 91. Many may wonder why she does not "retire" and move in with family so they could care for her. The realization of the matter is that she truly lives each day to care for others, not herself.

When the time comes for her to live with the Lord, I will rejoice in the knowledge that the Lord will shower her with love and wonders. She has truly earned the "ultimate servant" reward and the crown of love that he will bestow upon her in heaven. She will look young and beautiful with the jewels sparkling on her head. Our Lord will look upon her smiling face and say "This is my daughter in whom I am well pleased".

As for all of the people I have met in her life that have gotten angry or upset because of others that she allowed to take advantage of her kindness, I pray that they will remember what the Lord has said, "When you have done it to the least of these, you have done it unto me". She obeyed the Lord, have you?

When I have become her age and have learned to love as she has then I will have reached the ultimate goal that the Lord has set for us all. I pray that one day I will have become "The Woman I Met" so long ago.

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