Four Women

 

One day, last week, four women had lunch on a patio . . . each woman sharing a unique walk
in life . . . yet  becoming more aware of how we all work together.
There is something about women sharing their life and  the things they are learning . . .
while enjoying a meal . . . that just does a heart good!

I had called Annette to see if Lovella and I could go for coffee with her to present a copy of our  cookbook to her (if she did not already have one)
and to check with her about the chance to pass one along to our Right Honorable Prime Minister.
(We do not pretend to have high aspirations at all!) I'm smiling, of course.

Annette is the wife of Ed Fast, the Honorable Member of Parliament for our riding
and serving as Minister of International Trade and the Asia-Pacific Gateway.
I felt comfortable calling her since our paths have crossed in numerous ways since high school.
She right aways said, that she'd love to meet with us, but that she would like to host the lunch.
To say the least, Lovella and I were thrilled and honored!
Marilyn, a neighbor and good friend of Annette with whom I also share some great memories . . .
(such as, that her father was my Youth Pastor and married my H and I)
also joined us - and so there were four!

Annette is a wonderful hostess.
She prepared a number of delicious salads that I'd love to get the recipes for!
She set them out on the kitchen island, where we filled our plates
 and then took them out to the patio.
I see in her the unique gifting for her role as a wife of a government official.
Being by his side, supporting him, travelling with him and
interacting with influential men and women from all over the world . . .
 this is not a position to take lightly . . . and she does it with such ease and grace.

Marilyn contributed in more ways than she realizes.
Besides the delicious fruit and coconut yogurt parfait dessert,
She shared a scripture of blessing from 1. Chronicles 12: 18
" Peace, peace to you and peace to your helpers. For your God helps you."
It was so sweet, how she had jotted down the verse and shared it with us.
She is in the process of writing their own story of
their son's battle with leukemia and subsequent restoration to health.

Lovella shared her personal story of
the stages that have led her to this day, beginning with
her life as the wife of a farmer, working alongside him in those earlier years
 to make something of a desperately dilapidated farmhouse and barn.
It is so good to look back and see how hardships and blessings have
intertwined in her life to make her stronger . . .
empathetic . . . and ever eager to take on new things!

As for myself, Anneliese, for the sake of the four pairs of shoes . . .
what do I say, but that I am so grateful to the Lord
for His sovereignty in each of our lives.
I would have never guessed that He could use my humble skill of homemaking
to be combined with other women - to be shared with women around the world.
I am learning that what we give to Him, as small as it may be,
comes back to us . . . spilling and bubbling over!

We are four ordinary women . . . I can say this, remembering the years gone by
and being aware of some of the individual  hurdles we each have had to contend with . . .
but this afternoon was a time of recognizing together that
God is able to work all things for good when we trust Him
and are willing to fit into His plans.