Little Foxes

This morning I received the news that my friend Millicent Shyne had passed over to be with the Lord. For the past couple of years she has been living with her daughter in Florida. It's hard to explain the emotions that envelope us during these times....sadness, relief, joy...and so much reflection. How blessed I have been to have Millicent as a friend. She impacted my life in ways I can't convey appropriately for they are so many. My daughter Kathy worked for Millicent when she was in high school, and that was sort of the beginning of our becoming friends. Howbeit, we purchased our first home through Joe Shyne upon our arrival in Alamogordo in 1965. Millicent was Serbian in nationality and personality. Vibrant, passionate about life, generous, artistic, a real bookworm, energetic, courageous, magnanimous, honest ,candid, entertaining...etc.etc. Millicent loved to entertain...her parties were beyond portraying. She came up with; games, (hilarious,amuseing) as well as treasured prizes. I doubt there will ever be anyone like her again. She embraced me and my family and early on in our friendship encouraged me to get my real estate license. She not only encouraged others to excel and explore unthought of avenues in their life, but she helped in the process, bringing instructive books etc. to aid the process. Her love of books, music and art brought a greater appreciation of things,( before her presence in my life) I probably never would have encountered otherwise. Millicent always made one feel better ,happier, invinceable sort of, after being with her. The numerous lunches, parties, gifts, words of wisdom,phone calls, and heart to heart , woman to woman sharing blessed and continues to bless my life. She has impacted not only my life, my family's lives, but the community's and uncountable other lives along her journey of life. Although we were expecting to hear of her passing eventually, the news still brought a sadness and a longing that her presence could have continued all the days of our lives. I think this is one reason I so appreciate and cling to my faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, for Iknow beyond a shadow of a doubt that Millicent is now in that great cloud of witnesses. Though some theologians might take issue with my interpretation of that, I believe that my loved ones who have gone before us, having accepted the Saviour, are cheering us on from that heavenly home. My prayer for all who may read this is that you may experience the delight and joy of having a Millicent Shyne in your life and appreciate the blessing of true friendship.