LIFE WITH MARY

I have never seen her, but I believe I know her. If she were to walk past me now, I will not recognize her, yet I am sure I know her. If she were to stop me and speak to me, I know that her voice will not be familiar, yet I know, I know her. Her name is Mary, that’s all I know, yet she has been as familiar to me as my next door neighbor. All I know about Mary, I know from my wife, Gloria, yet as far as I am concerned, it is as if I have known her all my life.

Gloria knew her as the kind, cheerful cleaning lady who has been working at the local park for the past 6 years. Always with a large beaming smile, she greeted every one of the regulars with a hug so big and so reassuring that you instinctively sensed her sincerity. “I missed you Glo”, she would say to Gloria whenever a day is missed from the usual morning routine. “The ducks are doing fine” she would add, “but they miss you too”.

Mary first came to my attention almost two years ago when Gloria would come home from her regular morning visit to the park and speak glowingly of that truly “Christian lady” whose faith in God was so complete and powerful. Despite having to deal with the terminal illness of her only son who at the time was readmitted to hospital for the last time, she still found the peace of mind to praise God and trust in his ultimate plans for her son. When any of the regulars in the park will enquire about the boy, she would invariably reply with a smile grounded in her faith in her God, and quietly say:
“He is in the hands of Jesus, and by His stripes he is healed”

And when he subsequently succumbed to the ravages of his illness, Mary took a few days off to mourn and then returned to the park to continue her work. Even with a heart laden with grief, she continued to smile and greet the regulars with words of support and encouragement and a heartfelt prayer to “Praise Jesus, Thank you Jesus for everything”. When someone will offer her sympathy at her recent loss, she would reply with profound pride and conviction, “Thank you Jesus, he is now a soldier in Jesus’ army”

Like so many people, Mary’s early life was spent in the pursuit of personal pleasure without any regard to personal pride or dignity. Mixing with the wrong people, she was oblivious to the demands of decency and self respect. She was lost, and did not care about consequences. She was clearly unable or unconcerned about her downward path into damnation. She neglected every one who meant anything to her and was not bothered with her family responsibility and care. That meant nothing to her.

She recalls her moment of truth taking place on a fateful day when she found her self among people who worshiped Satan and being invited to become one. This was enough to create such a cataclysmic response that she ran out in shear terror and immediately sought out a Christian church. The events which then occurred are indelibly printed in her brain and she does not miss any opportunity to relate it to anyone who will listen. She refers to the occurrence as "her conversion”, when in desperation she opened a bible and in spite of the fact that she could not read, she swears that she was able to read and understand the written words. Christ was alive and his message was one of love and forgiveness to all sinners.

From then on, like Mary Magdalene of old, after her conversion she became a devoted follower of Jesus Christ. Her message is simple. She loves everyone as brothers and sisters, bears no malice towards anyone and prays for all people. She is now a true soldier for Jesus. Her life is now spent in living and spreading the message. Her faith is strong and her belief in God’s love and goodness is unshakable. Her life is spent in helping where ever she can, sharing and supporting when ever the need arising and taking care of those in need in what ever way possible. This extends to living creatures including the birds in the park.

In her own very simple way, Mary has found the true way of life that all good Christians aspire and hope for. She has no material riches to show and does not ever wear designer clothes. In fact whatever clothes she accumulates, she is likely to pass on to one of her needy church brothers or sisters. But unlike the “Madonnas” and the “Britneys” of the world, she is not lost anymore. She does not have to spend all her days accumulating wealth and recognition, while searching for the next “pleasure” or the next “adoration”. She knows that she is truly loved by the one person who matters. Rather, she spends her days in the way he has taught us to do, by loving her neighbors as herself, forgiving others who trespass against her and giving glory to her God.

Is it any surprise that Mary is sought after by so many of the regulars in the park when they feel the need to pray?