Watching Barbara's Life

What qualities of a person's life are worth emulating? I returned home from my long time friend, Barbara Poage's Celebration of Life. Yes, she was one of those friends who even after a long absence, we could pick right up where we left off.

I never saw her look anything but her best. Do you suppose that's how I learned in my twenties to leave my home looking as good as I possibly could?

She was the first person outside my family who shared how important the Bible was to her. I'm sure if one asked Barbara which version of the Bible should I read? She would answer, "Whichever one you will open and read the pages!"

You were always welcome in her home. In an age of paper this and plastic that--real dishes and silver graced her table.

I watched Barbara speak to children first, their adult parents second. Yes I learned from Barbara to treat children special with personalities, ideas and stories to tell.

I always got the feeling she was exactly the same person whether in public or at home. Maybe one day long ago, that's why God spoke to me and "I decided to be the same person with actions the same in public and at home." My yelling and sharp tongue stopped--you guessed it--at home. I'd always done pretty well in public.

Barb was always 'up' for learning something new. She made sewing totally into artwork. Like the Proverbs woman--she worked excellence with her hands.

Without her ever mentioning it aloud, I realized her prayer life and her personal Bible study took place daily and not just on Sundays at church.

Although it was too difficult emotionally for me to greet her family after the service, I wanted to say to her husband as he had said some years ago at my husband's funeral, "You're a strong girl (guy), you will make it!"

Whose life are you watching to see how to live? What do you wish your life to stand for? Do you, like Barbara, seek to live so you represent God well here on earth?