A few years ago, my sister’s mother-in-law passed away in her early 60s from a heart attack.
Jan treated everybody like they were family. She and her husband, Tom, included my small family in their gatherings–even though at the time, my sister and I were not getting along. The idea of being accepted unconditionally was strange to me.
Jan treated every person like he or she was special. She made me feel special. She was interested in my life, and she was generous with sincere praise.
From Jan, I learned to be more open and to risk loving unconditionally. And sometimes to keep my critical nature in check. Since her death, I have been trying to model some of the things I admired about her. What Would Jan Do?–is my reminder for what God wants for me. Jan was a saint sent to teach us how to love others in real time, in real ways, as God loves us.
When craziness happens or when the people we love the most hurt our feelings, how can we model ourselves after the saints in our lives?
This message is excerpted from “Modeling ourselves after the saints in our lives” by Elizabeth McBride from the September 3, 2018, blog of the Women of the ELCA. Today is the 23rd Sunday after Pentecost. Today is All Saints Sunday.
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