I recently met a 92 year old woman whose story saddened me deeply as she shared it.

I didn’t know her but met Sarah while on a walk with a friend who wanted to stop to check in on her. As we walked into Sarah’s very small home it was like an Alice Through the Looking Glass experience. The walls were adorned with beautiful paintings, intricate shell art, the furnishings as if at my grandmother’s home, the smile on her face so welcoming. I was transported to another time and place.

Sarah was being forced to move from her home despite having been granted a life estate. Since she was suffering from macular degeneration she chose not to fight and instead had resigned herself to the plan to move to Dallas by the end of the month. She had lived in this community for 47 years and had a wealth of knowledge of the sea life and countless types of shells she had crafted into works of art over the decades. Although her brain was sharp her spirit was crushed. She was without appetite and felt she had no reason to go on.

As my friend and I were leaving I told her she would be a blessing to all she will meet in Dallas. She  looked at me with a stunned expression and then smiled. I hope to have a few tea times with her before she leaves.

The world is so out of control as are our lives at times. We really have no control, whether it’s as drastic as being forced out of our homes or just trying not to be obsessed with deadlines and headlines. Yet the constant, the only peace we can feel is, when we are reminded of our purpose in life – to love God with all of our heart, all of our soul, and all of our strength, and by so doing to become able to love ourselves, and in so doing to become able to love others. This is how we serve Him, by serving others with love.

We often are so overwhelmed and discouraged that we lose belief in those truths and we need others to remind us. Sarah is so loved by our Creator. Yet as her eyesight is failing, as all that she has known and loved for so many years is being taken away, she feels purposeless, unlovable. She has experienced the loss of her husband, outlived two of her children, and feels at 92 years old that she’s lived enough.

Perhaps the thought of sharing her vast knowledge of maritime life at the seashore with those landlocked in Dallas was a reminder of His Love. Her life of stories of His created beauty will be appreciated by others, and so, be a vehicle for sharing His Love with those she meets. Her countless shell animals will surely bring delight to multiple generations!

Waking up with purpose, with the hope to share God’s Love in the unique ways He has given each of us, brings us out of despair and hopelessness. Even the thought of being able to go over to her home and share a cup of tea helps both of us, for every heartfelt moment we share not only lifts others but lifts us as well.

Smiling to others while on a walk helps to bring more love into this world. My Zoom calls are intentionally forgiving, all of us being reminded that we’re doing the best that we can. Being late or rushed is understandable, not a problem. On the other hand, trying to be respectful of others’ time is showing love as well. Consciously choosing the many little ways to interact with kindness becomes a way of vibrant living, one more deeply connected to the hearts of others which becomes a pathway to feeling His Presence as well. Staying centered with God at the forefront of our minds and hearts as much as possible throughout the day is a life line to our sense of well being. Doing so allows us to put all the rest of it in proper perspective – within a loving, merciful framework.

Recently I made the mistake of getting caught into the swirl and not first prioritizing loving another. No matter how busy, truthfully, we are able to make time to be there for our brothers and sisters. When life takes us over we can so easily lose sight of His Love of us as our guiding daily principle. Vice versa, when we lose sight of His love of us as our guiding daily principle, life takes us over. When that happens we lose sight of what is most important, loving each other and sharing His Love.

We don’t have the ear of world leaders, but we each do have our own spheres of influence. Our actions and inactions, our service, within those spheres are important, for the ripple effect is real. One on one, person to person, we can live love-filled purpose-filled lives of love of and service to others. When we do, somehow despite all the craziness, not only does God’s love of us prevail, but so does our ability to meaningfully love our brothers and sisters.

To love.

Shabbat shalom.

Diane