As long as the earth endures, seedtime and harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter, day and night will never cease.
Hi Everyone!
Life is full of surprises isn’t it? Although not unexpected, my father died a few weeks ago which caused me to reflect on my own life quite deeply. I was utterly surprised by how much his death affected me—it was like all the boundaries and fence posts in my life changed overnight. Dad was a loving yet very authoritarian man who had a strong impact on me, and I was shaken to the core.
I realise now that for such a long time I have tried to be the ‘good little girl’, who felt compelled to sit down and be quiet. Just recognising this has caused me some grief. I have become aware that the woman I am today has been constrained for so long, often to my own detriment. It is understandable then, that these past weeks have been a time of reflection, stretch and sometimes painful growth.
Amazingly, taking time to reflect is the focus of this issue of Christian Woman. It is important to occasionally stop—to think, ponder and contemplate the direction, values, and desires of our lives.
So . . . enjoy the wonderful people featured in this issue: Lyn Lusi, who could not bear hospitals, but now administrates one (page 22); Dorothy O’Neil who discovered bearing a grudge brought only sorrow (page 12); Merilyn Packer preparing for her daughter’s wedding (page 54); Dale Garratt on hospitality (page 6) and Joyce Meyer on prayer (page 20). The list could go on.
I do hope you are inspired by reading these pages. Perhaps now is your moment to reflect on your life, to prepare for some of life’s surprises.
Jenny Baxter
Editor
jbaxter@mediaincorp.com
