The Back Page
By Sue Ferguson
It's April already, and Easter is here again. I'm not sure I could have ever envisioned being where I am right now at this stage of my life. It was around Easter 22 years ago when my life changed course from where I thought it was headed and went in an entirely different direction. It's not up to us to know where we are going or where we will end up, but rather to trust God along the way and keep the faith. I had aspirations of being a teacher when I was younger, but now I have the privilege of working with and meeting a lot of new people in my job as a supervisor at Riversyde 83, for which I have become truly grateful. I work with a lot of people who were already friends of mine in my past life as well, and working alongside them has given me the opportunity to come to know them on yet a deeper level. I have been blessed and have really enjoyed working with my Mom at Riversyde making pie pastry and the (now thousands) of butter tarts every Monday morning in the Great Room kitchen too. I know my Gran is smiling down on us as we work the dough of her very own pastry recipe. In multiple ways I have reaped the rewards of so many wonderful relationships, and it is all rooted within the love of Jesus.
Recently, we lost one of the beautiful friends from our Riversyde team. She was a host, and many of our guests grew fond of her on their visits to the café. She always greeted everyone with a beautiful smile, and a kind word, and she sure loved to talk about her hrandchildren. She was one of those people who went above and beyond and always took her job to the next level. She really liked to do a deep clean on things which I appreciated, having a little OCD myself when it comes to cleanliness.
Shane and I attended her funeral in Jarvis, and it was so lovely. I enjoyed hearing the words from those very grandchildren of whom she spoke so highly. I got to hear about their Grandma through their eyes, speaking of how much she meant to them and why. So precious. The songs at a funeral always tug at my heart, and the final song of the service really stirred my soul. Sung by the remaining three members of Joan's barbershop quartet, it was a piece by Alabama entitled “Angels Among Us”. I thought of Joan as I listened to the music. I had visited her in the hospital before Christmas, and we held hands and prayed together. She told me “I am ready to go when He is ready to take me.” Now she is among the angels, and she is home with our Father in heaven. She joins many angels from my life too. What a comfort it is to know that, as sad as we are here without them now, they are free of pain and suffering, sorrow and fear. They are whole again.
The resurrection of Christ on Easter brings for us this amazing hope for everlasting life. Even through our darkest hours and most challenging times, there will be joy in the morning. If not for my great loss, I may not have come back to Simcoe. If not for Riversyde, I probably would never have met Joan. Not only did I get to know her, I got to work alongside her, laugh with her, cry with her, pray with her, and I had the opportunity to say not “goodbye”, but “see you again my friend”. I am grateful to God for placing me right where I am right now in this life. I trust His plan, and the celebration of Easter is a reminder that we are loved, we are not alone, and we forever have hope of renewal in this life.
