Nell Easterling is 94 years old. She and her husband, Lairy, were founding members of our church. For more than 50 years, they served faithfully, given generously, and modeled the faith life to our congregation. Nell’s also a really good cook.
As I sat across from her at a pot luck dinner, I asked for the recipe for the dish she’d brought. As with most good cooks, she could recite it from memory.
But halfway through, somewhere between the cottage cheese and the Mandarin oranges, she stopped. Catching her husband’s eye, she tapped the tablecloth in front of her.
“Honey, let’s take these home and wash them,” she said. He nodded. “We can’t do much anymore, but we can do that.”
I wrote down the rest of the recipe, but came away from the conversation with much more than instructions for a new dish. Without realizing it, Mrs. Nell had shared a life lesson with me.
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Lori, we have a precious couple in our church in their eighties and they have been on mission trips to foreign lands and most recently on one to Tennessee this summer. They are an inspiration to all of us and so filled with the love of God it is a pleasure to listen to them talk. This was a great inspirational post with reminders to always look for places we can serve.
ReplyDeleteWow, what a great example of serving God from birth to "Well done." You are blessed to know these senior saints, Barbara.
DeleteFor me, it was my little brother Paul. Although he wasn't graced with superior intellect or vast riches, he was given the greatest gift this side of salvation. God placed in him a servant's heart. Whether it was his pulling a wagon into the woods of western Massachusetts to collect firewood for elderly neighbors, or pulling the moss down from the scrub oak trees around his church, he was willing to serve in ways so many others never had time to do. He modeled, for me, what it meant to do all things with joy. I hope Ms. Nell is still able to come to your church now and again; and is doing as well as she can after her tragic loss last year.
ReplyDeleteI love this, J.D. What a fabulous glimpse into Paul's great big heart. I look forward to meeting him one day. Thanks for asking about our dear Mrs. Nell. She's doing amazingly well and continues to be an inspiration to us all.
DeleteLori, I loved this post and thought of many who give life lessons but are unknown and don't make headlines. For many years, my brother drove to my Dad's apt to drive him to the mall so he could walk for exercise and get away from his four walls. Years-like ten, five days a week. It was a picture of sacrifice of time and still is.
ReplyDeleteWow, what a labor of love. And what a dear, dear son your brother was to his father. Thanks for sharing a peek into your family with us!
DeleteWhen we lived in Virginia, a wonderful lady named Maxine showed me the way to serving. In her 70's and now 80's, she invited me to every mission opportunity she learned about. I tagged along and learned more about serving others than I had ever learned in the past. She is a wonderful example of compassion and serving.
ReplyDeleteI had a Maxcine in my life, too, Melissa. Her name was Ms. Lois, and she let me tag along behind her as she served the Lord by serving others. Decades later, I still think about her example. Thanks for chiming in today!
DeleteI love this story about Mrs. Nell and the valuable lesson she teaches by example. Ramona is a dear 91 year old friend who can barely see. She's the most encouraging Christian I've ever been around and she serves any way she can.
ReplyDeleteI love RAmona already!! What a joy to have her in your life :)
DeleteI am inspired by this lesson from Mrs. Easterling. Thank you for sharing this.
ReplyDeleteThere are a lifetime of lessons to be learned from Mrs. Nell. For sure :)
DeleteBeautiful lady quietly setting an example as you shared. My friend was Bea Andrews. I took position as church secretary at Bea’s church. Her and Ira her husband were both in their late 70’s or early 80’s. She was the church treasurer and came to our staff meetings. I immediately was drawn to her especially and Ira. We became close friends and I often visited and loved hearing their stories and Ira was a performer when The Lost Colony began in 1937. They both passed to Heaven in the mid 90’s and I miss them terribly. They loved their church and were always serving and loving others. I still have a bible Mrs. Bea gave me that she used which made it special. I look forward to seeing them in heaven!
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