Wednesday, January 13, 2010

Wednesdays with Wanda

It Matters

(Part 2)

Last week I shared with you how much it matters when we do little things to bless others. If you didn’t get to read my post last week, please click HERE.

Today, I want to give you a word of encouragement that God can take those “little” things and make a “big” difference in His kingdom!

Sometimes I am a little worried about sharing too much about how wonderful I think my mom was. I would never want these posts to glorify her and not God. Each week when I write these posts, I can hear my mom saying, “Traci, honey, don’t focus on me…point them to Jesus.”

So I want you to know that as I share the wonderful things that my mom did here on earth, I want it to be very clear that it was Jesus Christ in my mom that accomplished those great things.

Mom’s visitation and funeral were two of the most amazing things I have ever seen. I knew my mom was loved by many, but to see the outpouring of love to my family during her visitation and funeral was overwhelming.

Mom’s visitation was on a Thursday night from 5 to 9:00 p.m. We were originally only going to allow 3 hours, but anticipating a big crowd, we decided on 4 hours.

The funeral home was packed as soon as the visitation began. There were faces as far as I could see. The line went out of the room, down the hallway, and out the door.

It was September, and the weather outside was wet and chilly. As the night progressed, and more and more people came through the line to express their condolences, I would ask some of them how long they had to wait to get to us. They shared that the wait was over an hour and a half! We found out later that the line to my mom’s visitation actually went all the way outside, wrapped around the building and continued down Main street. Those precious souls waited out in the cold and rain just to express their love for my mom and my family! It was after 10 o’clock before the last person left.

Why would they do that? Well, I believe it was because my mom touched their lives in some little way along the road, and it mattered.

I cannot tell you the number of people who were at her visitation that I have never seen or met before.

Here is what I heard over and over again,

“Hi, Traci. You don’t know me, but your Mom visited me while I was in the hospital several years ago and it meant the world to me.”

“Traci, I’m ___, you don’t know me, but when my wife was sick last summer, your Mom sent us a card almost every week to tell us she was praying for us.”

“Traci, we’ve never met, but your mom was our church secretary, and every time I saw her, she always had a warm smile for me and was full of words of encouragement. She will be greatly missed.”

“Traci, your Mom made the best apple pie! She made one for our family when our first child was born.”

It continued all night.

Sending a card, making a pie, or sharing a smile may not seem like a big deal, but to those people, it mattered.

My dear friend, Julie, waited in that very long line, and she told me about something that happened while she was waiting.

A man who was at the funeral home for a different visitation was looking curiously around the room at the long line that was for my mom’s visitation. He had a perplexed look on his face as he peered around the corner trying to see who’s visitation it was. It was a look as if he had missed the “memo” or the evening news…. “Who was this lady?” he asked. Julie said she could tell he was waiting to hear a name he would recognize, maybe a local politician or well known citizen. Why else would there be a line of people wrapped around the building in the cold and rain?

But before Julie could respond, a lady in front of her said, “She wasn’t anybody special, just a beautiful woman of God.”

Now that lady wasn’t saying that my mom wasn’t special. She just meant she wasn’t someone special by the world’s standards. She wasn’t a politician, a news anchor, a famous singer or writer. She was just a mom, a wife, a sister, and a friend. Her position as a church secretary didn’t make her famous or wealthy. Yet hundreds and hundreds of people stood in line for hours to show how special she was in their lives!

That’s what the love of Christ can do in a life. He can take an ordinary person and do extraordinary things for His Kingdom. But we must let Him. We must give our lives to Him daily, and pray that He would fill us with His wisdom and strength to be the kind of people He wants us to be.

Sometimes I don’t feel very special. I’m just a stay-at-home mom. I’ll never be famous or wealthy in this world. Sometimes I feel like I’m not making much of a difference.

Do you ever feel that way?

Well, let me encourage you (and me). It is Christ in us that makes us special. If we give our lives to Christ each day, He will do big things in our lives. Things that may never get noticed by the world, but things that will make an eternal difference in the lives of others.

That’s the kind of life I want to live.

Thank you for letting me share the thoughts beneath my heart,


35 comments:

  1. Wow, I am sorry I never knew your MOM; what a legacy she leaves. thanks for sharing!

    suzanne

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  2. Wow! I SO needed this this morning...1st thing! WOW! Yeah, I haven't been feeling very special. Just a stay at home mome...w/older kids at that. Wondering WHY I am here. WHY aren't I special enough to be 'known'. Thank you Traci for pointing out that Christ is IN me....and that it is my purpose to make others feel special!

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  3. Traci, these posts are wonderful and you are definitely giving glory to Whom it's due!

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  4. What a wonderful post today Traci. Your mom was indeed special. It really is amazing what a small act of kindness can mean to others. I try to remember that always. God Bless. Hugs, Marty

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  5. Very inspirational post, yet again, Traci. This is going to sound strange, but I've often thought about my own visitation and how many people would be there. I truly do think it is a reflection of the kind of life we lead. How many people we touch. I would like to think that there would be alot of people at mine, but have I touched alot of people in my lifetime? It's not about glorifying myself, just as you said so eloquently, just glorifying Him.

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  6. Traci..
    simply beautiful,,
    and from the heart!
    warm hugs..Loui♥

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  7. I enjoy reading all of your posts and the Wednesdays with Wanda ones are especially touching. I recently lost my favorite uncle (who was like a dad) to cancer. He was diagnosed with stage 4 lung cancer with brain mestastisis in late October and passed away just after Christmas. Your posts and your mother's words help me to feel better and renew my faith. I would admit that I did not grow up in a very religious household and I am trying to raise my family differently. In the death of my uncle I have found myself questiong alot of things and wondering alot. Your blog helps me see things clearly and feel peace. Thank you for that.

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  8. God Bless you, Traci!
    What a beautiful example your sweet Mom is.

    May you have a great day,
    d

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  9. What a wonderful heartfelt, inspiring post...thank you so much :)

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  10. Traci,

    This is such a sweet post. Your Mom touched so many people. We can only aspire to be as kind and caring as she was...

    xoxo
    Jane

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  11. Your mom sounded like an amazing woman! Thank you for sharing!!
    xo,
    Kelly

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  12. How absolutely touching, and such a great measure of how precious each little action we perform while we're here on Earth is. You mother sounds like a wonderful woman and inspiration, and you seem to follow in her footsteps.

    You could say that in creating this blog you're touching the lives of so many the way she did - sharing ideas for making a happy home, spreading the word of Christ, or even leaving a kind comment on a fellow blogger's site. These are all ways you're touching us, Traci. Although that's not to say an apple pie wouldn't be a huge hit at our house. :) Thank you!

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  13. I love the stories you share about your mom. As always, they are always inspiring. I know you must miss her greatly.

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  14. How beautiful Traci! I'm so glad you're sharing these memories with us. She's not only changing the lives of those who knew her; her legacy is inspiring all who read this to be kinder, more compassionate people. I know your mother is smiling!
    ((Gentle Hugs))
    Lisa

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  15. What a legacy. As Jenn stated above, you in turn are touching the lives of many in so many ways. You are truly an inspiration to me in many ways.

    Thank you.

    ~ Tracy

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  16. Traci
    Your writings are so inspirational. God has given you a beautiful gift. I don't know how many times I've pulled up you site for a friend to read your Feet posting, or how many times I've told your story to others, in need of an encouraging word.. Even Sunday I spent the whole Sunday School hour outside the Sunday school classroom talking to my Friend who's mother is suffering my Dementia, meanwhile her sister is taking my Friend to court to get custody of her mom, It is breaking my Friend's heart, But I was able to convey your posting on It Matter's from last week and we were both blessed. God is good... Dee Dee

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  17. What a precious mom you had. Such a good reminder that even the little things we do can count for God, it can open up so many doors. Your posts are a blessing pointing us to God.

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  18. I went to Ladies Bible Study this morning. We are beginning on study on the Life of Abraham. We talked a little about how God has a purpose for each of us. Some of us stay at home moms don't always see our purpose past taking care of our families. I shared your blog post from last Wednesday, it fit right in with what we were talking about. Thank you for sharing and for inspiring me to more of the little things.

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  19. I love this post. It reminds me of my grandpa Jack. The same thing happened at this visitation. So many people, even the guy at the local gas station came!

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  20. Traci, This is a beautiful post, as usual. Very inspirational and encouraging. You have a wonderful way of expressing yourself. Keep it up! Linda

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  21. What a beautiful tribute to your lovely mother! I know it is such a blessing to see the lives that she has touched.

    My dad had been interviewed on t.v., the radio and the paper several times over the years, and when he passed one of the reporters did a story about how much my dad had touched his life (and others). It just really blessed my family to see him honor my dad like that.

    What a blessing to know that your mom's life goes on and on, and her Godly example will live on in others.

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  22. Traci....Your posts are a gift from God/your Mom....I wrote before that my Mom has been gone for 20 yrs +.....and I still miss her....your writings encourage...and inspire all of us to give from our hearts....I so look forward to Wednesdays with Wanda....it is my fav blog..PLUS you are one handy thrifty gal that I admire!!!! Blessings to you new friend!!!!
    Evie
    evichevy@verizon.net

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  23. I think I get it…you want us to know that it's about living a life for Christ. But some of us get so bogged down in with worldly troubles that it can be really difficult to find our way to that life, even when it is our heart's desire. For me, the stories of your mother's life are a compass, and you, dear Traci, are a lovely arrow pointing the way.
    Instead of coming to your funeral one day and saying to your children, "You don't know me, but your mother made such an impact on my life," let me say to you now, that this little thing you do every Wednesday matters tremendously in my life, and I thank you for your uplifting inspirations.

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  24. Amen, Amen! Beautifully spoken, Traci. I'm again humbled by your Mom's tremendous legacy and encouraged that yes, when God is at work in the hearts of ordinary people, extraordinary things happen. Blessings to you for sharing these precious thoughts.

    Tracy

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  25. What a sweet tribute to your mom. I pray I'll apply the attributes you've shared about her to my own life and be a blessing to others.

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  26. What a wonderful example your mom was for all us ... and taught us how to be a woman of God ... thank you for sharing.

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  27. Hello, I am new to blogspot, and I have enjoyed reading you. You keep life interesting. Come visit me sometimes, www.joycebarnett.blogspot.com, I am a follower of your posts. I write articles that are inspiring, I've been told.
    Keep it up

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  28. How beautiful. Alot like my mother. Thank you for the lovely devotion.

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  29. Such a beautiful testament to your mom and how she lived her life in Christ. Thanks so much for sharing!

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  30. Hi Traci, I have been reading your blog for a couple months now, and just wanted you to know that because of the stories you tell, the uplifting words about God and how He has touched your family's lives, I realized that I had drifted from Him. I now have that closeness back that I once had and was missing not too long ago. He has done so much in my marriage, mothering and friendships, and I just feel like shouting on my rooftop how special He is to me. Your blog is so encouraging, especially the Wednesdays with Wanda. I love reading about how special your mom was. Just thought I would let you know that you have made a difference in my life! Hope that helps on days when you don't feel that you're making a difference!

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  31. what an amazing legacy of love your mother left you.....and what an amazing daughter you are to share that love with us all...Thank you!

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  32. Traci, your posts on It Matters are two of the best I've read since I started blogging, or should I say "blogging again", a short time ago. They mean so much to me. I'm so very sorry for the loss of your precious mother. She sounds like such a wonderful person and someone I would have loved to have known. I lost my precious husband one month after you lost your mother. We would have been married forty years the following month after his passing. I've been away from my graphic's work and blogging for the past year, except for an occasional post here and there. I was living in a fog for that year. I began to awaken from it this past Oct and am trying to get back into "normal life". Your mother's words, "I don't always understand God, but I trust Him." are so very true for me as I learn to live now as a single, differently abled woman. I don't know what I would do without my Lord, my son and family, and my friends, both on and off line. Thank you so much for sharing your thoughts here on your beautiful blog. They have truly been a part of my healing process, a balm, and have made my day and life better. ♥

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