Important People

Tomorrow I will be leaving at 5:00am to chaperone a youth Mission Trip. I'm excited, yet exhausted with just the thought of it. I am using my vacation days to not have a vacation. Am I crazy? Maybe. As I have been preparing myself for this mission trip, my mind has wondered to the great examples I have had on how to be a great youth leader. My mind immediately goes to Ms. Sherry, or Scary Sherry as she was affectionately called.

Ms. Sherry has been my Sunday School teacher, my Disciple Training teacher, my sign language teacher, my make-up artist, my cheerleader, my decorator, and a friend. I learned how to work with youth by her example. She was always there to listen and to give advice. She knew what was going on in our lives, many times without us even telling her. Her home was our home.

When I was planning my wedding, I called Ms. Sherry to ask her for some advice on flowers and decorations. I think I called her several times before she finally asked if I would like for her to help us. She took my mom and I shopping in Memphis and put arrangements together that we never would have been able to do. She also did my makeup before every dance. I would always go to her house with my foundation on and she would fix me up. It was only natural for her to do my makeup on one of the most special days of my life, my wedding. My wedding was so beautiful because of her help. I love her dearly and so often we don't tell those important people in our lives how much they mean to us and Ms. Sherry is one of those people.

Ms. Sherry and her husband, Mr. John, also showed us kids what a loving marriage looked like. They never shied away from showing affection towards each other and we knew how much they loved each other. Ms. Sherry is also honest to a fault. She will tell you like it is. She didn't hide that her past wasn't perfect and shared with us what God had done in her life. I cherished her honesty and I pray that I can be that honest with the kids at my church.

I can tell what things my youth workers passed down to me. I say phrases like, "Saints and Aints," "When God talks, you don't." Because of Ms. Sherry I have a passion for teaching our ministry team sign language.

Thank you, Ms. Sherry!