Small World, Big Impact: Wendy

Last week I started telling you about some people who had a big impact on me...not because they are famous names known worldwide, but because they were faithful in their everyday lives, and I noticed. My hope is that as you read about these people, you will recognize people in your lives who did the same, and that you'll also see that you are impacting the lives of people around you. It's your choice whether that impact is positive or negative. Let's be a big, Christ-honoring impact on those in our paths!

This week I want to introduce you to Wendy...as I wrote about her twelve years ago.

I wrote Wendy's mother a letter once. I never mailed it, but I wrote it as part of a class assignment. Wendy was adopted, and I wanted to thank her biological mother for giving her the gift of life. In my letter, I told her what a friend and role model Wendy had been for me. I told her of Wendy's inner beauty, her passion for God, her many talents, and her outstanding commitment as a wife and mother. I closed the letter by saying, Wendy's life has certainly been a blessing. Because you chose to give her life, she was able to give life to three beautiful, healthy children. I can only say one thing to you, her biological mother, and I mean it with all my heart: thank you. You made the right choice.

But now I want to thank Wendy herself. I babysat for her children many times, and I learned so much about a healthy Christian marriage and about parenting, too. I heard her talk about her dates...times when she and her husband would go out and set goals for their marriage and for their children. They spent time focusing on the needs of their family and doing everything they could to create a strong bond of love and family values.

One night she came home and showed me some cards she bought for her kids. No special occasion...she just wanted them to know how much she loved them. And she does love her kids. I've never seen a parent enjoy her children so much. She thrives on the pure pleasure of her gift of parenting.

From her, I learned to take pride in a home and to make everything in that home personal. I learned the importance of taking the roles you play in life very seriously and doing the best you can with them, and not worrying so much about what you can't do.

I saw the excitement in her preschooler's face as she told me the leftover cake on the counter was from the spiritual birthday party she celebrated with her family. What a great idea...to celebrate the spiritual growth of children! In these and other ways, I watched her cultivate the unique individuality of each of her three children.

Wendy, when I am a wife and a mother, I hope that I can not only have a portion of your sweet spirit, but also remember the valuable lessons I observed just by being in your home and watching you. Thank you for teaching me that marriage and motherhood are not chores to be completed, but blessings to celebrate in new and imaginative ways each day!

***

Wendy and her husband have seen all three children through to adulthood now, and the first of the kids got married this year. Through the magic of Facebook, I've been able to see that what they did as parents when their kids were young paid off, and they are still a family to emulate today. Though parenting isn't in our planned future, it was Wendy's example that made me strive to be intentional about weekly date nights, creating a home, and being beautiful for my husband. I still long to continually cultivate the same kind of loving relationship that she and her husband have. And I've taken all the advice I stored up from those babysitting years and all I observed in their home, and that's what I use at baby showers when I am asked to offer advice! Thankful for Wendy's influence on her impressionable babysitter!