Dear Nora

There's been very few people in my life that truly inspire me and leave me in aspiration. That's sad really that as I look back I can only say this about 2 or 3 people. Don't get me wrong, there's a lot of people I respect, admire and love, but I'm talking about people who have had profound spiritual and lasting impact on me.

One of these people came to mind as I was just happily stripping beds this morning. They're no longer with us here now as she's gone to be with the Lord. But as I started thinking about her, I felt so sad that I didn't realise years ago quite how incredible this lady was to me. I knew at the time that she was special- her love for the Lord was more apparent than in anyone I've ever met. She literally shone with the love and presence of Jesus. Her face glowed, a smile always on her face, her eyes were simply full of love. Because she loved Jesus so much, love for people seemed to just pour out of her. When she gave you a hug, you felt hugged! It was warm, it was real, there was no polite quick arm around you and pull away; no, she gave you a LOVE and her embrace was like an embrace from Jesus Himself.

She had time for people. She talked, she listened, she smiled, she encouraged. But never once did I feel like she was talking down at me, or teaching me in any kind of preachy way. She wasn't proud or haughty - just the opposite actually, she was humble and gentle. Yet she was bold and so exuberantly in love with Jesus. The balance between her peaceful demeanour and her zealous love of God was extraordinary. Some people who genuinely love God and want to share that with others come across as arrogant or above it all. "Bible bashers" I guess many would call them.  Some who love God are so introverted in their spirituality that you wouldn't even know they have a faith - they've no obvious zeal or "oomph" about them.   Her balance was perfect - she was a lot like Jesus. I don't think He was proud or haughty. He said some pretty strong stuff sometimes, but that was always directed to the hypocritical pharisees. The everyday man, the layman - the you and me ordinary people He just loved and accepted in whatever state they were. He just extended an arm of love to them offering them healing and a life of freedom; He spent time and talked to people, going out of His way sometimes just to talk to one person to help them.

Going back to this lady, she was a lady in the church I went to as a teenager. But even though I knew her when I was in my teens and she was probably in her 60's, I wanted to be just like her and I look back and wish I'd been able to spend way more time with her than I did.  I wish I'd talked to her more, and learnt from her wealth of wisdom. I wish I'd basked in her peaceful, loving presence and had more of her wonderful hugs.

There's few people in this life that can inspire you so deeply within, that you aspire to be like them. We need to make sure we get around these people whilst we have the opportunity to be. And we need to tell them. I'm sure Nora never knew how deeply I loved her and I don't think I realised myself until I heard that she'd passed away. It was probably at least 7 years ago now that she passed away. But I miss her. I miss going to church meetings and wondering if she'd be there. I miss her smiling face. I'm looking forward to seeing her again one day in heaven and having one of those amazing hugs.

Although I aspire to be just like Nora, I know I probably never will be. I feel disappointed by that reality. But I am just not Nora, as much as I would like to be. I am me. And I am me for a reason - because God made me to be me; He gave me a purpose and He created me completely unique. So as much as I would like to just be able to step into Nora's shoes and walk in what she was and had with God, I can't.  I have to wear my own shoes and take my path that was set for me and have my own relationship with Jesus.
What I can do along the way is learn from the Nora's of this world how to be me. Because I am a Christian I believe I am called to reflect the love, the joy and the peace that Jesus has given me. After all, God is love. And I perhaps won't reflect it exactly the same way Nora did, but I will in my own way. I'll do it in a way that is unique to me. I can learn from Nora to be bold in who I am - I am not ashamed of who I am. My identity lies in my relationship with Jesus. I can take her example and try to ensure that my passion for Jesus never becomes prideful or hypocritical, but instead is something that is beautiful and maybe someday when I'm in my 50's or 60's or beyond, some teenage girl would look to me like I looked to Nora. If they did, I would be some truly honoured.

My dear Nora, I miss you. Thank you for your beautiful demonstration of what a Christian should look like - and for being so in love with Jesus that you gave me a glimpse of what His love felt like when I was just getting to know Him. xx