An Abundant Life - A Story Worth Telling

I have known TS, as I will call her, for many years. Because I know that she doesn't like to be put in the spotlight I won't identify her by name, but when I was thinking about who to write about this week, I realized that though I've admired her and called her a dear friend for many, many years I've never written about her in these pages before. This past week someone asked me what he could do that would make me want to write about him, and as I was telling TS the story later I realized that anyone who would ask me to write about them I probably wouldn't want to write about. As I've mentioned before, I am a very contrary sort of person. If everyone is raving about something I'll walk the other way and if someone is telling me how great they are I'll have a very hard time not being skeptical. I don't know exactly why that is, but it's the way I am, and it's always the people who don't expect to be written about, who don't think that they are anything special, who are the people that I find special and noteworthy and extraordinary.

TS is a teacher, and again in honor of her privacy I won't say where, but she has been teaching for most of her adult life both in and after graduate school. We met in college, and the thing that drew me to her in friendship was the fact that she always said what she felt and believed, and there is such a strong sense of honesty, integrity and authenticity about her that she is one of those rare people that you can trust will always tell the truth. She can also keep a secret when it comes to other people's personal lives, something that is also extremely rare. She's known me through some of my darkest days and wildest times, and she's never held it against me. She also has allowed me to grow and change and is one of the few people I've been friends with so long who has seen me at different stages of my life without judging or asking me to be someone I am not.

She's very hard working and reliable, a friend and mentor to students, fellow teachers, professionals and paraprofessionals alike. As a teacher she is well liked and admired, and over the years I have had the opportunity to see her teach which was always a surprising and lovely experience for me because I enjoy seeing people I am friends with excel in their work and the things they love to do. Her students always give her very high marks and she is regularly reviewed by them as being a favorite. She writes papers and does research as part of her job, but it is more than that because she is always seeking to learn more and to find information and reach a place of clarity and understanding about a variety of subjects in her field and afar.

An avid gardener and lover of animals, she travels and hikes, searching out wonderful places to explore and take others to while also finding contentment in reading and doing needlepoint at home. She loves art and museums, theater and film and dance, and regularly gives to charitable and community causes with her time and resources and by speaking up for those whose voices may not otherwise be heard. She is what would be considered the ideal woman in Proverbs 31:

"Strength and honor are her clothing;

She shall rejoice in time to come.

She opens her mouth with wisdom, 

And on her tongue is the law of kindness."

Over the years that I have known her we have traveled together and visited some of the most memorable places because of the research she did to find them, and the memories are all the better because of our time shared there together. I can always call on her as a friend to listen to my heart, whether it is full of woe or challenges or happily filled with laughter. In answer to the person who asked me recently what he could do to get himself written about, I have a simple answer. Be extraordinary in the way that TS is, honorable and kind, honest and hard working. Let your life tell your story, and then your story will be worth telling.

With TS In The First Year That I Met Her

Blessings,

Jannie Susan