Life as Thank you 36
You are one of the most amazing women I know and I am so blessed to call you friend. Â The memories we made while the Mohlers lived in Chicago are among of my sweetest. Â One of my goals in 2016 is to write an old school thank you to people in my life each week. In honor of your birthday, it is your turn! I think of and pray for you often, and I thought I would take a minute to share with you how grateful I am that you are in my life and the impact you have made. Â (This includes Mark too)
I knew of you years before I met you. Â I read your books. Â I loved the articles in the Marriage partnership journal. I memorized a poem you wrote in Campus Life magazine. Â Needless to say when Jim and I moved to IL and met you and Mark, we wanted to put you on a pedestal since we were fans of your ministries and admired the impact you were making for the gospel. Â We often talked about how Mark asked us to take you both off the pedestal and just become friends and colleagues. Â And we are so glad we did.
I am so grateful for the things I learned as a teacher by observing you and Mark teach.
I am grateful for the example you both set as servants at church, from watching Mark on the floor with babies to you teaching women the Word of God.
I am grateful for the example of hospitality I gleaned as a recipient and observer of your relational openness.
I am grateful for your example as a team in ministry, which was always our goal as well. Â We found kindred spirits in you both.
I am grateful for the traditions we established and enjoyed. And I was so thankful that Mark helped Jim as his roommate at the last AYME conference.
I am always grateful for the example you set as parents and caregivers of your aging parents (and then as grandparents). Â You may not have known that someone was watching, but I was one of those watching and taking notes.
I am grateful for your journeys of faith, lived out so winsomely and consistently. Â I still hope to be like you when I “grow up!”
May God continue to use you both. May you both remain trustworthy with the keys to the kingdom, Â May God continue to shine through you and His favor on you.
Ruth, I love you, my Friend! – and it is much easier to drink tea and hug when you are not on that pedestal!
Miriam