The Story of God

A little perspective....

Missing Everlee

I am not sure about you, but I have been very fortunate to have a handful of women I can look up to and learn from in some way. I am so thankful for these women who are family by blood, or through friendship. One of these women in my life, I always find myself thinking about the most during this time of year: Everlee. December marks the anniversary of "Mamaw Hooks" passing. Her life and even death had a very special impact on me. She had a very simple life, nothing extraordinary to the naked eye, but very influential to me.

Hard at work in her beloved garden!

One of the last pictures taken before finding out she was sick. 

Growing up next door to her, provided a very special relationship which I probably took for granted until I was much older, but I am so thankful for the childhood memories I had helping her in the garden, eating junkfood, "going to town", and countless others. Most of all I am thankful I was able to be influenced by her faithfulness to the Lord, family, and neighbors. Her life was simple, but beautiful to me. The simple things about her were the things which still remain with me today and I pray I would be this sort of influence.

My first year in Illinois, my first month really, I received the news she had a brain tumor. Honestly, I was devastated and momentarily even bitter this would happen after I was 8+ hours away from being available to her. Through this, however, I experienced the goodness of the Lord and his perfect timing more deeply than ever before. 

Since she had opted out of treatment due to age, there was a window of time in which the doctors said she would have before her mind would go and they didn't know how long she would have, etc. so my biggest fear was I would not get to see her one last time before she stopped recognizing me even if she was physically still functioning. The Lord granted my request to see her 2 more times. The first visit was along with my other family, and it was one of the most special times as a family that I recall. Mamaw had always been so frugal and not one to eat out, but she was very determined that if she was going to go, she was going to go out with a bang. (I had to talk to her about being so spunky about something so dear to our hearts!) But "party" we did, and I cherish those last moments with this precious hero of mine. 

Years later, I still miss mamaw so much. So many things make me think of her. Her absence in my life is still so obvious, but her impact still remains. I find myself getting caught up in so many temporal and unneccessary things more often than not, but her life really serves as a reminder to me of the value of a life lived for eternity and the legacy this can leave behind even to only a few. I have a long list of things to be thankful for, but most certainly I think of Everlee...mamaw...and thank God for her.

Check this video out-not sure why I can't attach it normally...still encouraged by this perspective she shared with us weeks before she died.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4xkG3JGtm4Y&feature=youtu.be