Footprints in my heart.

People are supposed to come into your life and leave a mark.

This is what I learned from a Missionary friend who mentored me early in life.  A spiritual mom whom God used to plant seeds in my tender years. Although it took many years for those seeds to grow and her investment to bear fruit still she patiently held my hand as I walked wobbly steps towards maturity.

She is Jean Shawver.

When she left and went back to Des Moines, USA – life was never the same again. She wore a lot of hats in my life- my chauffer (from church to my home and to wherever the fellowship was), my piano teacher (don’t blame her if until now I can only read like a beginner; I didn’t practice…my fault ), my children’s church teacher who taught me a lot of things and most specially my friend.

Until now, many years later, I still cannot forget her. She left her mark in my life.

Why do I honor such a woman? Because her worth is far more than rubies.

I write this to honor her and to honor another friend.

A friend whom I have only met a couple of times but is constantly in my mind and in my heart. Truth to tell,the number of times we met cannot exceed the fingers of one hand but she made a mark.

I saw her numerous times at church but the turning point was during a translators meeting at their home. It was love at first cookie. I was drawn to her, like I was drawn to Auntie Jean.

We exchanged emails, planned on having coffee but because our schedules won’t permit, everything remained as plans. But yesterday I received an email from her. She and her husband Dr. Steve are leaving the Philippines for good. After 38 years of serving God here, they are finally ordered to pack up and put their tent somewhere else.

I felt the same tug in my heart when Auntie Jean left, but this time it would be different, technology will bridge the great divide. Where ever God brings her i’m sure she will make a mark as sure as she left a mark in my life.

To my dear friend, Karen Lynip, you made a mark.

You cemented your footstep at the walk way of  my heart when you visited me at the hospital and comforted me at the scariest point of my life. You understood my fears without making me feel that my double surgery was nowhere near compared to the numerous surgeries you had.

Auntie Jean and Karen – I hope I will one day have somebody say that I made a mark in their life as you two godly ladies did in my life.

Walk on and continue to leave marks along the way.