Important people in your life

[Looney Linn]

I thought it would be fun to start a thread where we could brag or just share about some of the most important people in our lives. Now obviously my son is the most important person in my life, but he is not the reason for this thread. I want to talk about my Sunday school teacher, mentor, encourager, and most important, friend, Pam.

Pam first came to my grandfather's church, as the minister of music, the summer I was 16. At first I didn't really like her that much. I didn't understand how anyone could be THAT happy all of the time. Over time she really began to grow on me though. The real change came when one day running through the hall at church I fell and put a huge dent in the wall about a foot up from the floor. Pam came up the stairs and said, "No offense sweetie, but you must have a really hard head!" How true that is.

I started going back to church about a year and a half ago at Pam's urging. The thought at the time was that I could go for one Sunday and buy myself atleast six more months before she asked again. I hadn't really been since moving up to Richmond (about 2 1/2 years). Something was different that Sunday though and I haven't stopped going since. ;D

About four months ago I fell into a really deep depression (its happened my entire life, or atleast as far back as I can remember). I couldn't motivate myself to go to church for a month. Finally I made it back one Sunday and while in Sunday School I just fell apart. I wept the entire hour. She told me that I had to talk to someone. Since I was too ashamed to call my grandfather (who is no longer pastor of the church) she called him for me and set up an appointment with a counselor he had suggested.

She also went to the counseling session with me, and continues to go with me if I need her to. Especially when we discuss issues that are very hard to deal with. About two months ago Carter (our current pastor) decided that he didn't want Pam teaching our class anymore. I have had a very difficult time dealing with this. However, our relationship has actually grown stronger than it was before.

I speak with her atleast three times a week, and she has become the person that I trust most in the world. I've never had a great relationship with either of my parents. My mom and I have gotten along better than my dad and I but my mother lives two and a half hours away. Even with her insane schedule, Pam has stepped up and really been a second mom to me. She is the only person who I feel really believes in me. The other day she called me just to tell me how proud she was of me for joining the choir (it really was a struggle for me.) It brought me to tears because no one had ever done that before. I love her more than I can ever express and I thank God every day for putting her in my life.

Sorry, I know I went on a little but I just wanted to share my respect for an amazing woman I have been fortunate enough to know. I hope everyone else will be motivated by my story to post their own. I look forward to reading them.

[thumper]

Thank you for that beautiful story Linn. Pam sounds like a truly amazing person & you are lucky to have that in your life.

My family; my husband, children & grandchildren are of course the most important people in my life but my grandmother holds a special place in my heart. Even though she has been gone several years now, not a single day goes by that I don't ask myself what she would do or what she would think.

I was raised by my grandparents. They were both born in Appalachia. My grandfather worked in the mines at Stearns Ky. My grandmother worked the farm & raised 7 children (plus several grandchildren & great-grandchildren). I was their very first grandchild. I can also say I was a little spoiled but being raised in there home, you quickly learned the value of hard work & the value of a dollar (sense they didn't have many).

My grandfather was minister of our Baptist church until he was in his 70's & health problems overwhelmed him. My grandmother struggled with depression. I was in my early teens before I truly understood how hard her childhood was & the effect it had on her as an adult (I go into her background a bit in my web blog). A few years ago I was diagnosed with a bi-polar disorder. Looking back, I can see the same behaviors in her. She knew something was wrong. Her family doctor suggested seeing a psychiatrist but she refused. Where she grew up, people only saw a psychiatrist if they were crazy. She didn't want anyone to think she was crazy.

Truth is, my grandmother, faults & all, was an amazing woman. The only time she missed church was when she was too sick to get out of bed (that was rare). No one had to ask for her help, she was there to offer it whenever she saw a need. She, and my grandpa, taught me that the most important thing in life was taking care of yourself, your family, and living a Godly life. Years ago, before she died, I stopped going to church, mainly out of laziness. Still, when Sundays roll around I hear voice telling me "you need to get yourself back into church before its too late". So who knows, maybe one of these Sundays I will. But everyday, when I get up & I have my family, I'm thankful to her for making sure that I was raised knowing the value of family & being thankful for it. That's something not even death can take away.

[texasgal]

LL, what a wonderful idea for a thread. I enjoyed reading your and Thumper's contributions so much. You are tough acts to follow. Not that we should think of this as a competition!

Well, definitely the most important people in my life were my parents who have been gone for several years now. The only problem is that they set such high standards, I feel that I am a terribly poor reflection on them, and that I'll never measure up to them.

The next important people in my life are my siblings - because they came from the same parents, obviously. My siblings are my only link to my parents. Especially important to me is my sister, Laurie. I have always looked up to her and idolized her. I would have been far better off had I followed in her footsteps.

I have a couple of very close friends with whom I share everything - even things I might keep from my siblings. I can't think of anything I'd hold back from these people. I share my good times and bad times with them. I value and trust their opinion. That is why they are so important to me.

On the outer circle of my important people are my rabbis and my art mentors. They have taught me, nurtured me, encouraged me, and challenged me. I have learned so much from them and, because their wisdom seems endless, I will never stop learning.

Edited to change 'art mentor' to 'art mentors.' There has been more than one.

[Looney Linn]

I find it neccessary to once again mention another important person to me. My dear friend Amy. Amy and I have known each other for many years however only over the past 18 months or so really developed a friendship. It is a very deep meaningful friendship though. I was feeling very down this weekend: worried about money, the holidays, loneliness, the list goes on, but I will not. Friday was especially difficult as I had to work right after Thanksgiving. Friday evening I was very upset. She came over and when she got to my apartment she told me to close my eyes and put out my hand. I did so and she put something in my hand. When I opened my eyes I was amazed. She had a jewelry party about a month ago and I attended it, but couldn't really afford to get anything. I was there for support. ha ha. There was a bracelet that I loved, but it was like $30.00 and far too much for me to spend. She had bought it for me and gave it to me on Friday night. When I asked her what it was for she said "No reason, just for being you!" It nearly made me cry. I have worn my bracelet every day since and every time that I look at it, it makes me smile. ;D