In the midst of joy, one often finds sorrow.
This happened to me at BRCMC 2010. I was nearly beside myself with joy on Sunday. The conference was about to begin, I was in the midst of the inspiring Blue Ridge Mountains, and -- joy of joys -- my mother was coming to be a part of the week with me. She arrived by car, traveling with a friend of mine, at around 5:00 that afternoon.
She left the conference center on Wednesday via ambulance. A week later, she left Asheville, heading toward her home in Georgia, by hearse.
In the midst of joy...
On Tuesday afternoon before that first fateful Wednesday, several marvelous things happened. Mother and I, along with faculty member Ramona Richards, took a jaunt up to the lookout so Mother could see the splendor of God's handwork. Awestruck, she said, "Couldn't you look at this the rest of your life?"
Another thing that happened was that Mother declared she was "going to start volunteering here each year."
"I'm putting in my application," she said as we sat outside Mountain Laurel, enjoying the sunshine and the view. "I think I'd really enjoy that."
Mother loved to volunteer. In fact, she was named the VOLUNTEER OF THE YEAR for both 2009 and 2010 for her service at Syl-View Nursing Home in Sylvania, Georgia. When she died, she was slated to win VOLUNTEER OF THE YEAR for the State of Georgia. (She was part of the Bingo Angels who serve in nursing homes, helping with activities such as Bingo, cookouts, hayrides, parties, in the cafeteria during mealtime, etc.) Because of that honor,Mother had the joy of riding in our hometown Livestock Festival Parade in which she threw out candy to the "little children." Mother loved children.
Mother was always serving someone in some fashion. She worked tirelessly designing and heading Children's Church in order to draw the next generation into the Kingdom. On the opposite end of the spectrum, she never failed to take care of adults older than she and those younger than she but in poorer health. Since her recent retirement from Screven County Board of Education, Mother's volunteer work exploded. She met herself, as the old saying goes, coming and going.
In her years of employment, Mother worked first as a para-pro, then as the supervisor of ISS (In School Suspension) where she obtained some pretty funny stories, and then in Food Services where she entered computer data as each child came "through the line." She worked within the capacity of this last job for many years. There wasn't child in Screven County she didn't know by name and Lunch Line Number. They all loved her. "Hey, Miss P!" we'd hear everywhere we went.
Mother loved good food. She adored scrumptious desserts. She wasn't a "big" eater, but she loved what she liked. She was also a great cook, but over the years she'd tired of it. Especially, she'd say, the trying to figure out what to prepare each evening. Maybe it was to help with this problem that she stood at the recipe rack in the Ridgecrest dining hall and pulled a few recipes out.
After Mother died, I received many emails and cards from the good folks who attended last year's conference, telling me of some word of encouragement or wise advice Mother had given during the three days she spent there. I appreciate them all. In fact, I cherish them, especially those which reminded me how "proud she was of you." I am not surprised by hearing these words; it was just another act of giving from a remarkable lady, even after her passing into Glory. Naturally, they all made me cry.
However, there was one in particular that made me laugh out loud. Larry Van Hoose of Sonfire Media wrote:
I spoke to your mother a couple of times while at the BRCW Conference and she was so funny and happy that she "tickled my heart." I can still see her as she looked at me and said, "I'm just glad I don't have to cook!"
That sounds just like her...but let me assure you that if she'd been needed in the kitchen, there you would have found her.
In John 21, Jesus gave Peter His command to "Feed my sheep." For this reason and because of Mother's years of volunteer work and her desire to volunteer at this conference, the Betty K. Purvis Memorial John 21 Fund has been established. We will award to one conferee a fully paid for meal ticket while at BRMCWC. Here's all you need to do to win:
1. Send an email to PenNhnd@gmail.com with "Betty K. Purvis Memorial John 21 Fund" in the subject line. (That part if VERY important...it keeps unknown email addresses from being deleted.)
2. In the body of the email answer two questions:
a. What is your financial need?
b. How do you hope to see your work used in a John 21 kind of way?
Deadline: April 1, 2012
The winners will be notified by mail and announced on this blog by April 20, 2011.
Between now and then, tell everyone you love that you love them. Never miss an opportunity...never.
Eva Marie Everson
Proud Daughter of Betty K. Purvis
