In honour of my dear friend ‘M’

We both used our Christian name initials as ‘shorthand’ in texts and emails: she was ‘M’ and I was ‘A’. We were both December babies, my birthday is just before Christmas and M’s was on the very last day of the year. Our joint birthday celebration was often lunch at Whitewebbs House in Crews Hill when M lived in London. We were both creative in different ways, M made birthday cards and I write devotional poetry. Here is a light-hearted poem I wrote for M on one birthday card:

I have a wonderful friend named Maureen
And her favourite colour is green,
But when it comes to food you can’t ignore
She’s allergic to gluten and much more ~
So don’t give her chocolate or caffeine! 

A most amusing memory is from an American-Western themed dinner/dance held by the students at Oak Hill Theological College where M worked. One unforgettable image was a young man dressed as a Native American-Indian, with a feathered headdress, bare-chested and waving a plastic tomahawk while he jumped around ‘dancing’ ~ it was hilarious. If only there was a photo ~ M joked that we were perhaps looking at a future vicar!

I’m so grateful to M that she introduced me to new places that were quiet havens away from the ‘busyness’ and noise of London. We had trips to the Dutch Nursery, many visits to Whitewebbs and an absolute delight was Hitchin Lavender one summer where we gathered our own lavender and sunflowers too. M was nicknamed the ‘Lavender Lady’ by someone where I live.

Maureen was such a kind, gentle soul and always so generous. But M was more than a precious friend for many years, she was also a sister in Christ and a strong believer. We used to have Lent Bible studies together. One Easter M chose a book which was definitely not my favourite (she wasn’t a great fan either!) called 'A Long Obedience in the Same Direction'. That's what faith is, a marathon that lasts a lifetime, not a short sprint. M said she was going 'from Devon to Heaven'. And now she has.

The late Queen Elizabeth quoted: “Grief is the price we pay for love.''* So true. Missing you, my dear friend M, you were such a blessing ~ what a joy it was to be able to talk with you about everything going on in our lives. I thank God for your friendship through the years and I shall always cherish your memory.
With love, Andri x

*The late Queen delivered these words as part of a condolence message she sent to the families of British victims of the 9/11 terrorist attack. The words are adapted from a passage written by Dr Colin Murray Parkes, a psychiatrist at St. Christopher’s Hospice.

[© mariecurie.org.uk]