OUR MARY

Have you ever had someone say something that just took your breath away....in a good way? I had one of those moments a couple weeks ago.

Larry Wade, pastor of the Urbana Yoke Parish, also writes a blog.  (http://larry-fromthepastorsdesk.blogspot.com)  On Friday mornings, he sends an email to people in our church, friends, people in churches he pastored before coming here, and, I swear, to anyone he has ever said hi to.  This email lets them know the blogs — his and mine — are posted on the church website.

We never discuss what the other one is writing, but it is amazing how often they will be on the same subject.  In the email, Pastor Larry will give a hint as to what each blog is about.  He will warn people that I am having another conversation with God.  Or he will tell them, if they only have time to read one, they need to read mine.  Or he might remind them my mind works a bit differently than most.  That is how it goes each week....until a couple weeks ago.

I was reading the email and right there were the words: our Mary.  OUR Mary.  Our.  What a powerful word.  Our: that which belongs to us ....  I belong.  I am included. 

Hubby and I started attending Urbana Yoke Parish four years ago.  Some of my husband’s friends found out we were looking for a new church (We are not church hoppers!  We left a church we had attended 39 years.)  They invited us to Urbana Yoke Parish.  From the moment we walked in the door, I felt at home.  People came up to me and asked my name and said they were glad to have us visit.  They hoped we would return.  Return we did. 

Unlike some churches, I was immediately included.  Instead of being sent to the sidelines, I was invited to Sunday School and the Women’s Guild.  I was asked to fix food for the funeral dinners.  I was trusted to take money at the pancake breakfast.  Included is another powerful word. 

I love to hear people’s stories and they were happy to share.  I learned about being a twin and how a new bride did not know what to do with the baby chickens delivered to her door.  I laughed at the image of a man shoveling snow away from a fence so the cows could not walk over it.  I heard how a very sweet lady had been married in the parsonage.  I heard about weddings and baptisms and funerals.  People included me in their lives.

But to get an email that called me “our Mary” was unexpected. 

I told Pastor Larry how much that meant to me.  He looked shocked and said, “Well, you are our Mary.”

Words can be powerful.  Pastor Larry had no idea I would read those words and feel blessed. 

 

I told this to a friend and she understood.  A few days later, she told me that, when she thinks of this, she smiles. 

A weekly email.  Words written without thinking.  Words read.  A heart touched.  Smiles.  Words are powerful. 

Bless someone with your words this week.

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PS 

We are very thankful to attend a church where individuals are cherished. 

If someone would ask, “Who is that?” 

I am sure the answer would be, “Oh, that is our Steve.  And that is our Jolene.  And over there is our McKenzie.  She is standing beside our Carol and our John.  You must meet our Helen and our Aaron.  And this is our Bill.  This is our ___every person affiliated with UYP____

We are very thankful to attend a church where the pastor values each person and calls them “ours.”