It’s Five Minute Friday and I am joining Lisa-Jo Baker and other FMF girls to write flat out for five minutes. No editing, no polishing, and then linking up together. I am loving this challenge! I hope you enjoy it too! Check out what Five Minute Friday is all about here!
CLOSE
GO…
You can find her as you enter the double doors of Taylor Elementary finishing up her custodial duties and readying the school building before 600 kids descend upon it. You sense her spirit of joy even before the first words are spoken. Her laughter is worth waking up for Monday through Friday.
This week Bea announced her retirement. As I read the email announcement, tears puddled and my heart ached and cried “how can I come to work each day when she isn’t there to greet me?”
You see… a year of intersecting paths has influenced me and encouraged me when my own sense of loss was overwhelming. Each morning her greeting of “Good morning, Mary!” filled my soul, gave me purpose and I knew I could make it through the day. Her mothering attention filled the emptiness of the loss of my own mom. Her positive attitude was healing for my broken heart.
Not only does she minister to me everyday but every single adult and child in the building have been touched by words and hugs that were meant just for them. When one of my students pulled me aside in the hallway and shared that Bea was his best friend, I recognized the far-reaching power of love and encouragement that can only come from face to face contact. Gifts of love, hugs and encouraging words have been given to each of us. Lessons of a positive attitude are ours to keep. Bea’s examples of encouragement have been etched in my heart and will not be forgotten.
So as the school doors close one more time and Bea walks forward to retirement, remember this…
Even though a door closes, the legacy of encouragement will linger and echo throughout the hallways. May the positive words always remain a shout and never diminish to a whisper because the power of encouragement is contagious. Pass it along today and everyday.
STOP
16 May our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father, who loved us and by his grace gave us eternal encouragement and good hope, 17 encourage your hearts and strengthen you in every good deed and word. 2 Thessalonians 2:16-17
I hope you will allow me a little grace today. Closing a door has slowed down my words and my five minutes was stretched because I needed to say just the right things! Weekend blessings to all!
Mary
Linking with:
      
Hi Mary,
Thanks for coming by and visiting my blog. It was nice meeting you for FMF.
Have a wonderful Memorial Day and a great week.
Sherry
You’re welcome and I hope you journey back here again and we meet up for FMF in the future. Happy Memorial Day!
I love this post, Mary!! Such a sweet soul to have ministered to your school for so many years. Did you link up this post over at (in)courage for The Power of Encouragement? If not, you should, my friend!! 🙂
Thanks friend! God has snuck into my brokenness over and over again this year and has given me people like Bea to pull me through. I did share this over at (in)courage also. Thanks for the suggestion. Have a beautiful day!
Beautifully written! Have a relaxing long weekend my friend!
Thanks, friend! Enjoy your weekend!
Oh, I love this! I taught for nine years, and our custodians were so special. These people were much more than “cleaner-uppers.” They were an ever present help in the time of need. What a beautiful tribute. I you share with her what you have written. It would mean so much.
You are right that custodians are an ever present help in time of need. I hope your years of teaching were a blessing to you. Thank you for stopping by.
Neat. It’s people like Bea with that ‘spirit of joy’ that influence our kids and make going to school day in and out a season to remember. I love that you’ve shared her with us today, Mary!
So glad you stopped by, Linda! Bea is a wonderful woman who has taught me much in the last year. Happy weekend!
Very sweet beautifully written post.
God’s encouragement through the example of a person in your life is such a treasure. Blessings to you this weekend!
Thanks for sharing this beautiful tribute of woman who’s made a difference in your life!
When you are provided with such a model of encouragement and you recognize it as such you have been given a gift from God that begs to be shared. Blessed you stopped by! Have a wonderful weekend!