Sitting outside the other night, I lingered near the fire pit after everyone left. As I warmed my toes, my eyes meditated on the deep amber and red colored coals. I felt warm and blessed. After just losing an Aunt and with her on my mind I began also remembering ALL the women in my life that mean so much to me. I love their sweet face’s, their kindness, gentleness, guidance, the laughter and the tears, and those meaningful embraces. Truth be told I am richly blessed and surrounded by some amazing aunties, cousin’s, and women sister friend’s!! It’s sad but true…I’ve had some not so positive experience’s as well. Women can be cruel, and there are some female’s in my past and present that have left me with scars. While some need and receive forgiveness….. sometimes it’s just best we keep our distance.

Before the coals on my fire went completely cold, the fire in my heart burned remembering the sweet and very pretty smile of my auntie. She was the tallest of my mothers sister’s. Her complexion was like peaches and cream. In the old days she wore her shiny dark hair in a lovely French twist. Lipstick & eyeliner, along with painted nails were a must. The smell of Jergens lotion at bedtime filled the room and lingered on my cheek. She was more than my aunt, she was my friend, my second mother and came to my rescue many times when I had trouble with my mom. She was soft and gentle….but when aggravated she had some good lungs on her. She didn’t like to hear a nose sniffle, she’d sternly say “get a tissue and blow that nose!”. She sang like a bird and she and my uncle could really cut a rug! I rarely saw her sit down, she was a worker. Her time was never spent idly, she was a true servant. She kept busy with shift work in a glass factory, a beauty shop in her home, her gardening, maintaining her pool, yard sale and bargain hunting, community and church serving, house chores and taking care of her family and… me. Her life was full, her heart was huge and her hands always busy. She never knew a stranger and would tell perfect stranger’s things about us all, that they didn’t need to know and we didn’t want them to know. Her tender heart often left her eyes misty, even if she wasn’t sad. My aunt was a rich blessing. I am joyed to know that she is singing in Heaven next to my mom. I pray that I am and will always be a blessing to those around me as she was.

God puts special people in our lives. I honestly think we can overlook them if we are too wrapped up in our crazy situation. Not only can we miss out on receiving blessing’s, but we can keep ourselves from being a blessing. Serving, sharing, kindness and love are showers of blessings that bring refreshment like a spring rain on the petals of a flower.

Join me today…as we honestly and objectively evaluate the inside of ourselves and our actions. Let us ask ourselves “do we always strive to be a blessing to others?” Not just in times of grief….but in the thrones of everyday life. Let us also look at the people in our lives and truly feel grateful for them.

“Lord, thank you for your gift’s, your blessing’s and the tender comfort and healing that only you can give. Open our minds and hearts so that we may see how, where and when to be a blessing to others.” In Jesus name Amen.