A strong woman has faith that she is strong enough for the journey...but a woman of strength has faith that it is in the journey that she will become strong. ~unknown
I was fifteen and I.didn't.like.her. -- The first meeting occasion was RB's high school graduation and every time she jerked me one way to take a picture, inside I was jerking the other. It's funny now, looking back, because this lady is one of my best friends.
Marsha, her birth name -- Meena, her chosen name when she married in India, is ten years older than her baby brother, RB. It's hard to describe her except to say there is substance in her heart. She's taken life and allowed it to make her strong.
In Marsha's strength she imparts strength to me. Twice in my life, when I was at the end of myself, I called for help. Both times she dropped everything and came (from Chicago to Southern Indiana), bringing strength, a plan of action, and love.
When I think of a sheltering tree, I think of Marsha. She gathers people under her branches and cares for them. Some people have pulled the leaves right off the branches, throwing her goodness in a mulcher, then coming back for another load of selfless goodness. Others, like me, have just spread a blanket and stayed.
Her home was Chicago for forty years -- it was there she owned and directed a Montessori school, there where she raised Adesh, Jesal, and Samiksha. These days you'll find Marsha soaking up sun in Southern California, finding new friends to shelter, singing in Shadow Mountain Church (Dr. David Jeremiah, pastor) choir and flying back to Chicago to love on her grandbabies. Together times are fewer, but her spirit is always here. Here in my heart, where my blanket is spread.
Linked to:
 |
| Marsha and Emily in Sunny California |
Marsha, her birth name -- Meena, her chosen name when she married in India, is ten years older than her baby brother, RB. It's hard to describe her except to say there is substance in her heart. She's taken life and allowed it to make her strong.
In Marsha's strength she imparts strength to me. Twice in my life, when I was at the end of myself, I called for help. Both times she dropped everything and came (from Chicago to Southern Indiana), bringing strength, a plan of action, and love.
When I think of a sheltering tree, I think of Marsha. She gathers people under her branches and cares for them. Some people have pulled the leaves right off the branches, throwing her goodness in a mulcher, then coming back for another load of selfless goodness. Others, like me, have just spread a blanket and stayed.
Her home was Chicago for forty years -- it was there she owned and directed a Montessori school, there where she raised Adesh, Jesal, and Samiksha. These days you'll find Marsha soaking up sun in Southern California, finding new friends to shelter, singing in Shadow Mountain Church (Dr. David Jeremiah, pastor) choir and flying back to Chicago to love on her grandbabies. Together times are fewer, but her spirit is always here. Here in my heart, where my blanket is spread.
Happy Mother's Day, Marsha!
Linked to:
21 comments:
What a BEAUTIFUL tribute! I pray your mother's day is truly blessed!
Happy Mother's Day, Pamela!
Marsha sounds like a gem. You are blessed to have her in your life - as you clearly recognize :)
Such a precious testimony to Marsha. What a blessing that you had her in your life.
Happy Mother's Day to you!
Thank you for sharing this beautiful testimony to Marsha. Blessings.
What a blessing to have someone like her in your life.
Wishing you a Blessed Mothers Day.
I trust you have a blessed Mother's Day! Thanks so much for your note on my blog!
You are lucky to have such a person in your life.
There are a few like Marsha who has the strength and the willingness to help.
God bless them.
What a lovely woman. (inside and out)
Just like you.
I love both Marsha's strength, and the strength of her heart! What a blessing!
Hope you're having a truly wonderful Mom's Day, Pamela - and that all the moms in your family are too!
GOD BLESS!
What a beautiful tribute! I love how God blesses us with just the right people we need in our life. Blessings to you!
Isn't it something how we can start out in life not liking those who the Lord puts in our life (for a reason).
This is a lovely piece dedicated to Marsha. What a precious and dedicated lady she is to her family, friends, and to her Lord:)
Blessings, Deanna
It's so good to have special women in our lives who can mentor us, be there for us, love us just as Marsha has done for you, Pamela. Thank you for sharing her story. It sounds as if you've found a great place to stay--on your blanket, under her branches. Beautiful!
I love the title...a woman of substance...to have a woman who impacts a life in such a positive way...what a blessing~
Happy Mother's Day! What a beautiful tribute to her:)
Lovely tribute. Hope you had a good Mother's Day. Blessings.
Such a pretty image - a tree with the blanket spread underneath! Lovely.
What a blessing when God puts friends like Marsha in our life! Thank you for sharing this inspiring tribute.
God bless,
Laurie
How wonderful to have a Marsha in your life! She sounds like a gift and a thank you for sharing this part of your story.
Beautiful tribute to a special lady.
Blessings,
Charlotte
I remember her ironing Melly's tiny little shirts :-) I dont know why that has stuck in my head,,I guess because I saw the beautiful heart she has and realized for one of the first times how simple actions show love, grace and true Christlikeness far more than any words.
I love this post!!!
Post a Comment