Nancy

Nancy was raised in the small town of Republic, MI.  I won’t say when she was born because you know how women can be about their age.  Nancy was the oldest of 5 children in their poor, needy household.  Her father died when she was about ten, leaving Nancy to help her sickly mother raise the family. 

Maybe it was because they were poor and had hand-me-downs for clothes that the town kids picked on Nancy and her family.  They were constantly looked down upon.  Nancy found refuge in swimming in the river during the summer and ice skating in the winter. 

Because of her time in the river, swimming upstream and downstream, Nancy was a very strong swimmer.  She had the unique ability to see different moves by an ice skater and duplicate the moves.  Nancy caught the eye of someone who saw her skating talent and she was asked to be in an Ice Follies.  However, Nancy didn’t have enough confidence in herself and politely declined the offer.  Still, she wanted to continue skating and one day, she hoped to swim the English Channel. 

Nancy met and fell in love with a young man from the other side of the tracks.  They married shortly after graduating from high school.  The town’s people told them the marriage would never last. 

To make a long story short, Nancy and her husband eventually moved to a small town in Central Illinois.  They settled there and raised their family.   Nancy became involved in many of the local organizations and eventually was an elected town official.  More than anything, she gave of herself and was genuine in her love for family, friends, and community. 

When there was but one child left in the house, Nancy decided she wanted to pursue another love of her life.  Music.  She began taking piano lessons.  Day after day, she dutifully did her finger exercises and practiced her songs.  Her piano teacher told her that she needed to participate in a piano recital. 

She chose a song she liked, “Send in the Clowns.”  Again, she was diligent in rehearsing.  However, she never had the confidence to play without the sheet music.  On the day of the recital, many children much younger than her played from memory.  Nancy was next to last.  When it was her turn, she walked to the piano with her music.  She placed the sheets on the piano stand and began playing.

She played slowly, purposefully, and with determination., but then it happened.  She hit a wrong note.  The music stopped for a moment.  Nancy’s hands began to tremble.  Her face turned red.  Then almost painfully, she finished the song after making several more mistakes. 

There was a polite applause as Nancy stood and walked back to her seat with every ounce of dignity that she had.  When the recital was over, she quickly gathered her husband and youngest son to the car to leave.  She cried inconsolably the whole drive home.  She never played the piano again. 

By the way the world looks at things, Nancy was a failure.  She never really skated again.  She never went to Europe let alone swim the Channel.  Her piano career ended in a terrible humiliation.  She never really did anything with her life. 

Oh really?  When Nancy finally succumbed to cancer after a 10 year fight, it was obvious to many that Nancy left an impact on her family and community.  There was a tremendous outpouring of support for the family she left behind.  Her family knew they lost someone special. 

Nancy left behind a loving husband, three children, and eight grandchildren.  She would now have 16 grandchildren and 3 great grandchildren.  How Nancy loved her grandchildren.  On her deathbed, she fought for every last breath because she knew that her daughter was soon due to deliver her second child.  Nancy wanted to be there.  She had so much to live for. 

Whether she realized it or not, Nancy lived a life that cared for others.  Love was something she gave away.  She touched people by being involved.  She understood that people don’t care how much you know until they know how much you care. 

Make a difference in your family, in your community.  Love isn’t love until you give it away.