Tuesday, March 15

A FAITH REFLECTION MOMENT

For it is by Grace you have been saved...it is the gift of God.
(Ephesians 2:8)

I went to church this past Sunday, contemplating our Lenten theme of going deeper into our faith. I read Father Tom’s meditation question: “Who has helped you grow in faith?” OMG, I started listing in my head all of the so many wonderful people who have helped me on that journey. At the top of the list is my mother. I want to share with you a story that happened this past week.

My mother spent the last 13 years of her life at Heartfields, an assisted living home in Fredericksburg, Virginia. The home director, Tracey, called my sister, Deborah, to say that she had found something belonging to our mother. My sister challenged me to guess what it was.  My first guess was church music as my mother was a pianist/choir director/organist for 80 of her 93 years. As weak as she was, I had helped her onto her organ bench to play for a service the last Sunday of her life. But Deborah said no, so I guessed, a box of old family photos hidden way back in her storage space? Our father was a professional photographer! Answer was again no, so I said: “Game over, tell me.” My sister shared that Tracey, with a tear in her eye, handed to her a small box found in the office safe. It contained our mother’s diamond watch. The 1960 appraisal note gave a value of $550. Our father had given her the watch on their 20th Wedding Anniversary. The story brought tears to my eyes and resulted in a phone conversation sharing wonderful family memories.

How has this deepened my Faith? First, I was so appreciative for the honesty of the Heartfields’ staff. And secondly, my mother’s strong faith carried us all through so many of both life’s joys and tragedies. She truly lived the message of Jesus Christ through sharing her gifts for the benefit of so many others. During this Lenten season, I am focusing on the fact that Christ lived and died so that we all benefit from the blessings of God’s Grace. My mother is still guiding my faith journey as each diamond in that watch represents a precious love moment of giving, worth so much more than the current financial value of each sparkling piece. Who has helped you grow in faith and listen more deeply to what God has to say?

In Loving Memory of T. Jane McIntyre Jennings 

March 15, 1921 - May 29, 2014

Sylvia Wadsworth