Creating! Graces: Grace Be Gone: Dorothy Ford

GRACE: The Triple Goddess, + One

I have been a firm believer in the Triple Goddess in each woman and in every woman, embracing the roles of Maiden, Mother, and Crone as they have presented themselves in my life; searching for them within when their specific insights were needed.

But as I age, and realize that women are living longer and healthier lives, I realize there is a void that must be filled by a new entity... she that is no longer quite so responsible as Mother, but who isn't quite yet secure in the role of Crone. Others, of course, have sensed this void, and have chosen their own idea of the needed addition to the Triple Goddess. I, however, am flying free, using only my own thoughts at present. I call this evolving goddess within myself "Grace": Grace because this new span of time for me, and other women, is there by the grace of God; and Grace because I need to learn to accept and share this gift of time and opportunity with grace... gracefully, gratefully, and graciously.

And because Grace is evolving, I will continue to honor the Triple Goddess, but always include Grace as "+ One". Women have always felt "the more the merrier", opening their arms, their homes, and their hearts to others. This blog is dedicated to Creating! Grace within myself and Creating! Graces in others. So, welcome, Grace, as we begin this exploration into your becomings!

Friday, August 19, 2011

Grace Be Gone: Dorothy Ford

I was greatly humbled at Dorothy’s funeral.

Not because of the dignitaries that spoke, although I know that would have pleased Dorothy. Not because of the number in attendance, although the church sanctuary was full to capacity. Not because of the eloquence of the many preachers presiding, although their words rang true. Not even because of the rows of pews filled with her family members, each grieving in the sadness of their loss.

I was humbled because each of the people there were in attendance because of their relationships with Dorothy: relationships grown out of mutual respect and love. There was never anything one-sided about Dorothy: She would do anything for you, unless, of course, Church, Family, Boy Scout Troop 400, or the Huntsville Housing Authority had already scheduled her during the time you needed her. She chose her commitments well, and honored those commitments even better.

I recently described Dorothy as mother, grandmother, great-grandmother and full-time volunteer. Although it seemed her time wasn’t her own, she always found the time to stop, sit, and talk for a while. And she listened. The stopping and talking and the sitting and listening was the secret to her successful relationships. She didn’t just work with those dignitaries that spoke that Saturday, she counseled with them. There were more than several of her graduating high school class in attendance at her funeral: Those were friendships that had been nurtured for years. Many of my former co-workers were in attendance; some of their relationships with Dorothy I knew, some I didn’t. There were those in attendance like me, that may have started out in the role of encourager, who later became the encouraged. The clergy that were at her funeral good-naturedly kidded about wooing her from one pastor to another, but it was clear each of them would have been proud to have Dorothy in their flock. And although I had always known that Dorothy was matriarch to a large family, I never realized just how large until the day of her Homegoing. It humbled me greatly to realize that each of these people, and many more, had enjoyed a relationship with Dorothy, time spent with her in stopping and talking and sitting and listening. And we were all there to witness Jesus calling her softly to come Home to Him, ready to continue their long talks and let their relationship grow even stronger.

Grace be gone, Dorothy; but Grace is not forgotten.