First Baptist Church of Herndon

The real gift

Linda Soller | Oct 05, 2015

The “Flower Lady” was the mental connection I made when I first got to know Margaret.  I would see her bring in beautiful flower arrangements for the front of the sanctuary week after week. She did this for years. I gradually learned she grew Irises. I don’t mean a few Irises, I mean a huge field of Irises which was known to flower lovers and artists all over our area. Some of those Irises grace our church gardens today. With time I got to know this lovely unassuming lady even better. She was in the senior ladies Bible study class I taught, and she brought wonderful treats to our potluck meals, her field of spring flowers became the home of the Christmas tree man in November, and a neighbor of mine loved having her to tea. Margaret had come to the D.C. area as a young woman to find work and made it her home. She was gentle, and humble, and funny. I loved to make her laugh. One thing was clear to everyone, she loved our church. Her church family was so important to her and she didn’t mind telling you about it.

Sometimes in life we come across people who for a variety of reasons take a firm hold on us and we just know we will always remember our encounters with them even when they are gone. It has been my experience those people are usually giving people. I can’t be sure if we connect because they are genuinely interested in us, or because of the way they make us feel. Surely you have those people. Maybe a teacher, or a coach, or a neighbor, or the person down the hall. God gives each of us a gift, and opportunities to share our gift. The people I find most fascinating are those who embrace their gift, take advantage of the opportunities, and never act as though they are anyone special. Indeed, it’s doing those things which makes them special. God tells us to love our neighbors as we love ourselves, which many of us find hard. The givers of the world take it one step further and love others more than themselves.

Margaret passed away a couple of years ago. I have written about her before. Recently we got a letter from Pastor Sean. It was about a surprise. A gift to the church from Margaret’s estate. A generous gift, the kind which changes lives. I confess I cried as I read the letter. I could picture her expression, if she were here to experience our gratitude in person. She would have looked down, waved her hand in an “it’s really nothing” sort of way, and explained how the church had given her so much more than she could ever give. Margaret herself was a gift to her friends and our church when she was alive. Now, after passing, she continues to bless us. The sale of her house and land, the very land where Irises thrived contributed to the gift she gave our church. If she were here I think she would say something like, “God blessed me with a field of beautiful flowers that sustained me and brought me joy. The field of flowers is no more, but the real gift is how, even in their absence, they can help lives bloom in the Lord, use it well.”

Have a great week! :o)  Linda

To Margaret – with gratitude and love.