daily life as life goes on . . .

I was surprised when a local retailer mentioned that he had read the editorial on Jill in our local paper – the Kindersley Clarion.  In the midst of this past week, I missed it completely.

Thanks to Kevin McBain, a friend of ours, for his kind words.  I usually don’t include longer text, but I’ll make an exception today!!  Below is the text of his editorial, used with his permission:

Making a difference – Kevin McBain (Clarion Editor)

The Kindersley Clarion, May 23, 2012 – page two

We are all put on this earth for a particular amount of time and no knows how long that will be.

We all coexist together in one house, one block, one town, one province, one country.

Forever, people have tried to understand the meaning of life – Why are we here? Nothing makes sense? What is the point to al of this?

With the recent passing of a friend of many people in Kindersley, we pause and reflect on her life.

Jill Baker, wife of Alliance Church pastor, Ron Baker, was a very kind woman and always had a smile and was always willing to help whenever possible.

She had to fight through battles. Starting at a young age, she was found to have heart trouble and despite several attempts to fix things, her physical heart was never quite right.

Despite these battles, she persevered and despite her physical heart being damaged, her heart of hearts was that much stronger. He will to fight was great, her ability to persevere was even greater.

She worked alongside of her husband for many years, making meals, visiting, speaking at various events, sharing her love for God and many, many other things to numerous to mention.

As many people can attest, she made the most of her life and set an example that many of us can follow.

What are you doing with your life? Are you a role model to your children, to others or, are you clinging to the words of the song – “I’m here for a good time, not a long time,” and trying to waste away the opportunities that have been set before you.

Everyone has a chance to make their life better and others better. Whether it’s mowing the neighbour’s lawn or even sharing a smile. What a difference that makes to a person.

Make the most of the time you have here on earth. Don’t just exist. Don’t blame the things that went wrong in your life on others.

Do the best you can. Put in that ‘110 percent’ effort as the saying goes.

Not everything is going to be perfect and rosy, not everyone will get along with everyone else. Not everyone will be financially set for life, not everyone will have the perfect job. Not everyone will . . .

But it’s what you make of what you have is the most important thing.

It’s not what you have, it’s what you give. Jill was a great example of this. She gave all she had for others. She was always willing to help out to those in need. She was always willing to share a smile.

Everyone wants to be remembered for something. It’s human nature to want to leave a legacy – what legacy are you leaving? How are people going to remember you?

And don’t forget that as parents, what you do with your life will reflect in your children’s life.

Bringing your children up right, getting them to show respect for others, getting them to smile, enjoy life an not to waste it.

Showing love to your children so that they can show love and not hate when they are older.

Spending time with one another as a family and bringing in those that don’t have family, or as much love, into your family.

When these things happen, life will be much better, your family will be much better and your community will be much better off.

What is your legacy going to be? Or fraught with anger, wrath and hate towards others.

Or is it going to be one of caring and sharing for others, such as what Jill’s legacy will be. She touched a lot of lives during her time here on earth, despite battling her own health issues.

She found the strength when none was there. She gave of her time and her energy to make the lives a little brighter.

Thanks, Jill. You were a true example of how we should spend our time here on this earth.

How do two seemingly unrelated events change a life?

I’m trying to figure that out, but it is happening.

Jill’s death has given me opportunity this Sunday to speak on how she modelled the Christian life.  My original drafts worked on up to 16 different ways.  As I pared it down, there are a mere handful that I will talk about this Sunday (you can find the sermon later today on our website – www.kindersleyalliance.com under the sermon tab).

This morning I was looking at an event that I had to miss because of the memorial service for Jill.  The agenda of the event (NCD 3 colors of leadership) helped people look at their strengths and weaknesses in leadership.  Prior to the event I asked five people to assess my leadership.

The results were not totally unexpected.  I have a strong tendency to help people realize their strengths and assess their weaknesses.  The weak area initially surprised me.  I need to be not only modeling leadership to others, but also training them for their leadership. 

Jill had a great capacity to train – I was always seeing the potential in others.  She would find advice exploding from her mouth upon the first indication of a problem or an opportunity in a person’s life.  I would encourage them to explore their understanding of who they were. 

Now, I’m pushing to become balanced.  Maybe giving a little advice is not a bad thing.  Maybe taking a person from seeing potential to putting feet to that potential is right where I should be.

I do not ask for anyone to die, but if they are to die, let their death bring life!!

Tucked away in a drawer – you have to think this was a treasure Jill kept!

In 1994, for Christmas I wrote her a poem.  We have, for a number of years, not been in need of anything.  Other than love!  This was my Christmas present to her that year.

I seldom say all I wish I could,

More seldom say all I should!

Endurance in struggles of new directions,

Lasting through our children’s corrections,

Preparation of culinary delights,

Companionship though days and nights

These all are signs of love unbounded,

By that love I am surrounded.

Thank you, my lover, my wife!

Christmas 1994

My grandson wanted some snack.  I wanted him to wait.

So I told him, “Wait til the hand on the clock says ten.”

Christopher intently stared at the clock and came to me just a few minutes later.

“The hand went past ten – I want my snack.”

I took a look.   The minute hand had only crept forward a few beats.  There were at least ten more minutes before the goal would be reached.

He insisted and we had a little war of the wills on our hands.

Then his mother intervened.  He explained the situation to her.  And she pointed out to me that the sweep hand that tells seconds had gone past the ten a number of times.

Apologies offered and my intent clarified – and Christopher was off to play and back when the minute hand hit ten.