REFLECTIONS
November 1, 2009
 
 
"His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things.’
Matthew 25:21
 
 
Polly
 
Mention the name of Polly Richards in the halls of the Church of the Incarnation and watch respect shine in the eyes of its Episcopal congregation. Mention her name to her family and friends and watch joy glow from their faces. Mention her name to the many students that passed through her classroom and see the twinkle of respect dance in their eyes. Mention her name to children of Honduras and they will show you libraries Polly founded so they may learn.
Polly was a teacher. While on a Honduran mission trip, her eye was quick to see that children there had little access to books. Her concern for them did not wane when she returned home. Thus began a search for books in Spanish language to establish a library for children in Belize. But Polly did not stop there. She grew the project to involve more people and to establish more libraries in more Honduran places. It was a project that occupied the rest of her life. And Books for Belize now lives on in honor of it.
Polly’s caring heart bettered the lives of underprivileged children in Honduras, but it did more. Her life bettered the lives of all who knew her. Polly was a teacher. Everyone she knew passed through her class room. Her classes included lessons in caring, happiness, friendship, love, hope, courage, and in glorifying God.
From Polly we saw happiness in her ever present smile and learned that happiness is a choice we make. In Polly we found a trusted friend, and we learned to be there for others in need. We watched the way she loved her family and it helped us love ours more deeply. And we found strength to face our troubles when we saw her courage in the face of a disease that would take her life. Most of all we saw hope grow in her heart as she drew closer to God. And we are closer to God too because Polly took us there.
When God called her into his loving arms, Polly was not taken from us. She is an indelible part of who we are. Her life shines warmth into our hearts and adds joy to our memories. Polly was a teacher. She taught us that we are teachers too. Just as we passed through her classroom, students pass daily through ours. And the lessons Polly taught to us through her life are lessons for us to teach through ours.
Polly Richards lived her life to the glory of God. Mention her name in the hallways of heaven and hear God whispering, “Well done, good and faithful servant!”
 
“You are the light of the world.”
RichardÌ
 

www.reflectingthesavior.org.


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