A Girl and ………. “His Story”

She is full of life and shines with a smile as big as Texas. To meet her you would say she is beaming with joy and walks with a zest for life. She is helpful and loving and she is ALIVE!! She works now as a flight attendant and she is all about “the moment.” You see a difference in her and it’s noteworthy as you watch this woman living a life of purpose and strength.  You say to yourself while watching her…….. “she seems to have it “all together”……. or so you think.  What makes her shine and smile the way she does? What is she so “HAPPY” about? She is going all out for me and she doesn’t have to……….what’s that all about?  I hear her say God is writing her Story.  And then she is off to help another passenger on the plane with all the kindness she just showed me.  My flight is better, my outlook is better ……… heck, my life is a bit better today because of how this woman just treated me.  I hear her tell some other passengers more about herself as they asked her if she was married and if she had kids.  I couldn’t hear everything due to the plane noise, but I heard mention of a North Carolina guy and she seemed mighty proud of her kids with one living in New York.  And again as she walked away from the other passengers, saying with a smile …….. 

“He (God) is still writing my story!”

A Glorious Unfolding

You might think this happy lady had a lot of good going on in her life.   Well she does, but let me tell you something.  I’m the North Carolina guy and I’ve been blessed to know this flight attendant before she even became a flight attendant. She is a widow and I’m a widower. In a short time I’ve watched this “beaming” lady go through some heartache and loss that’s just heavy for a lack of words.  I knew her husband had died of cancer a few years ago and I knew that she lost a sister before who was killed by a drunk driver.  She has a cool sister living now and a Godly father who have gone down the road of loss also.  Her sister’s son and fiancé were killed in a wreck at a young age.  This family has been through it. 

So here I enter into her world and learn more and more about grieving and a program called Griefshare.  I am the recipient from her of lessons learned about loss and here she is encouraging me as I deal with the suicide death of my wife and mother of my 2 boys. This woman who has been through so much hurt is taking the time to help me in my grieving.  And it’s not just me, she is cooking meals for widows and meeting with these women all around her pouring love on them like a salve.  I know my fluffy words seems like just words, but it’s true. I have never met a woman like this.  She speaks of a “glorious unfolding” as she sees God peel away the pages of her life as he writes.  She praises God in song and loves worship and praise music.  She lifts up this God who gives and takes away and she seems to “mean it!”  It’s just crazy to me to watch her walk in such faith. 

This past year the pain again is poured on this flight attendant and her family as she loses her mother to Covid and a few weeks later her brother dies of terrible burns from an accident while working on a vehicle.  And then just month’s later yet another loss with the death of her mother in law who she cared for following the death of her husband.  Death and it’s sting pushes in on this family yet again.  This is that bright and chipper flight attendant and her story…….”God’s story”. 

We watch her and we walk with her and we are served and loved by her and here she is bragging about her God and His story referring to a Glorious Unfolding.  What? …………………………….. Exactly.  That’s why I had to introduce you to her.   God helps her to help me to live and love again.  She hurts, she cries, she feels what we all do and more probably.  She then loves as God leads her.  All the loss I’ve listed out in her life.  Those people each loved and lived too.  They are missed something awful and they fuel this flight attendant to not take today or right here and now for granted.   
To be continued!

I could go on with more, but I’ll pause for now.  I will simply say that I love this woman for her faith, for her love, for her flaws, and for her care of me.  To God be the Glory.  I’ll write more as God leads me.  I’m just proud to know this woman.  Be on the lookout for her on your next flight.  You will know it’s her as soon as she says hi to you. 

 I will share with you in later writings specific lessons learned from God and this flight attendant about grief, suffering, loss, joy, loving hard, and living in the moment. 

The Word of God is very much alive.