A Pearl Like No Other

I've been quiet for the last few days because life has been especially busy. In the middle of it all we received one of those phone calls no on likes to make or receive. My husbands aunt has passed away.
Aunt Irene was a spitfire! Tiny, red-headed, and BUSY. I first met her shortly after I married into the family. She and her sister, Aunt Ruth, came to visit their mother, Grandma Ola. Ruth was quiet and reserved, but Irene... The memories still make me smile.
Over the years I learned a little about her life. Which wasn't easy. There were family struggles growing up. A marriage that produced two sons. And ended in divorce. A home for boys. A long career with the California Parks Department. A new love who became her husband and new daughters that came with him. She brought her mother to come and live with her after she retired. Caring for her until her death. 
The last time I had the privilege of visiting with her she talked about that time she had caring for Grandma Ola at the end of her life. She was honestly grateful for the time God had given them. Time to talk and heal their relationship. It had suffered from misunderstandings and life tragedies almost from the beginning. I can only imagine what must have been going through her mind.  The thought of bringing her mother into her home, knowing she would have to care for her completely, with pain from past hurts still prickling between them had to be an unsettling undercurrent to all of the preparations that had to be made. I won't forget how her eyes and face softened when she spoke of the healing their relationship experienced as they spent long hours together, just the two of them.
My father in law passed away before any of his siblings and before Grandma Ola. Aunt Irene recognized the hole the death of my father in law left in our lives. She stepped up to keep us included/connected with the family. Christmas cards, letters through out the year, the occasional phone call. Always telling us what the rest of our far flung extended family was up to. Asking questions about our little family. Remembering what our children were doing and sending little things she would find that related to them. One year she heard that our older son was considering a career in politics but was also interested in ministry. She painstakingly put together a spiritual family history for him. We discovered that she had traced our spiritual heritage back at least five generations. Each generation having at least two who became ministers. What a priceless gem she gave us!
I am going to miss her notes. Always so neat. The last few years she had taken to penciling lines in her cards to make sure her writing was straight. She always cared. I've had cancer a couple of times and she would send little cards with notes of encouragement and prayers. She donated to the Gideon's Society in my name as a way of showing support.
Grandma Ola loved music and so did her children. And her grandchildren and great grandchildren. Aunt Irene played piano. She played for the "traditional" service at church and well, pretty much whenever she could. When she heard that our daughter was seriously pursuing music she started sending sheet music. That's how she was. Always encouraging. Some distant cousins have formed bands. She would send us emails with information on where we could find their music. As well as where they were performing. Always keeping everyone in the loop.
Her brother, Clifford, was interested in science and wrote extensively. She always supported him. Editing his papers and passing them along for our review. Always supportive.
The last time we saw her she gave us a couple of old photos of my father in law. She took my husband and I aside and gently shared some family history that we didn't know. She felt it was important that my husband know his father's history. As things turned out it was a good thing she took the time to do that. She also made sure we knew how my father in law found his faith in God. Taking care of that spiritual heritage.
Even though my mother in law has remarried, twice now, since my father in law passed away, Aunt Irene made it clear that she was still part of this family. Welcoming. Inclusive.
Through out every conversation I've ever had with her she wove her faith and her belief that healing, peace, reconciliation are there for all. Always praying for family members who may have strayed from their faith.
A pearl is created as the result of an irritant in the oysters shell. The oyster secrets fluid in an attempt to wash out the irritant. The fluid often sticks and hardens around the irritant and after a long time a beautiful pearl is formed. This is Aunt Irene. A woman who had some significant irritants in her shell that became the precious pearl reflecting her beautiful soul.


Thank you, Father God, for giving us the gift of Aunt Irene.
  


Matthew 5:


 ³ “Blessed are the poor in spirit, 
   for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 
⁴ Blessed are those who mourn, 
   for they will be comforted. 
⁵ Blessed are the meek, 
   for they will inherit the earth. 
⁶ Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, 
   for they will be filled. 
⁷ Blessed are the merciful, 
   for they will be shown mercy. 
⁸ Blessed are the pure in heart, 
   for they will see God. 
⁹ Blessed are the peacemakers, 
   for they will be called children of God. 
¹⁰ Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, 
   for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.