As we grew up, my parents made sure my sisters and I had trusted adults beyond them to confide in. One member of my grown-up support group was my Aunt Barb, who lived with us when we were little. She celebrated birthdays, cooked meals, helped with the chaos of bedtime, and was a steady presence.
She is still someone I call when I need to talk. Our conversations range from the weather to what we are cooking for dinner to the wild things our beloved dogs are doing to deep, life-changing conversations. One such conversation happened during my freshman year of college as I struggled with what I wanted out of life. I was working as a newly minted youth director at a local church and loving it, but I had planned on becoming a vet.
One afternoon, I called my aunt to catch up on all the things happening in freshman Maggie’s world, including being pulled in two directions: towards ministry and veterinary medicine. I don’t remember much about the details of that conversation except one little nugget of wisdom she shared: “Maggie, you can be a vet who loves God’s people, or you can be a youth director who loves animals.” That stood out to me and stuck with me in my college years as I discerned what I was called to do and who I was called to be.
After that talk with my Aunt Barb, I knew that it was okay to make jumps in my career path. That things would work out, that God would carry me through whatever decision I made, and that it would be okay. Especially with my Aunt Barb on speed dial to share nuggets of wisdom.
I am not sure I ever thanked her for that kernel of wisdom I carried with me for years. It was one small sentence, one small gesture of love from my aunt, but it shaped me — and my call to ministry.
It is amazing to me how small things, like a simple sentence from a trusted source of support, can have life-changing impacts. I wish for everyone to have an Aunt Barb in their life to talk with, to laugh with, to cry with. A person they can call to chat about what is for dinner or what they should do next. The type of person who shows small glimpses of God’s love and wisdom and shares that love and wisdom unconditionally. Because when you have that person, it is a real blessing for your life and your faith. You will find yourself changed time and time again by their small actions of love. May you appreciate these people in your life. And may you find ways to be that person for someone else.
