Wednesday, April 28, 2010

Wednesday's Walk~~My Friend The "Shop Keeper"








This week for Wednesday's Walk down memory lane I'd like to share about my special friend. If you would like to join in with your post and link up, just click on the button and share your memory.

Over thirty years ago when we moved here from Colorado, I felt lost and lonely. But slowly I started to meet people and make friends. One of the special people I first met was a lady named Myrna who ran a consignment shop. I had taken some items in to see if she would be interested in buying them, or taking them in on consignment. She did indeed pay me for my bag of clothing...(since back then she dealt in re-sale clothing, but has since moved on to collectibles).

I would visit that shop many times and our friendship began to grow. Since then she has had her shop in several different locations and she even moved out of town to another town that was a couple of hours away, and had three shops in her new town...but our friendship remained solid. We shared many common values as we were both Christians...and I loved her family and she loved mine. We kept in touch those years that she was gone, and had many phone calls, e-mails and get-togethers. And eventually they moved back to town when her husband became ill.

When I began having grandkids she thought I was such a silly grandma as I would go on and on about the joys of being a grandma. Not having experienced that yet, she just couldn't quite understand the reason why I was so wrapped up in everything about them. That is until one day when she too became a grandma... (She has five grandkids of her own now and one of them is a newborn and she is just eight days old) Now this is just one more thing we can share together. She prays for my girls and their families everyday, and I pray for hers. We are really more like family than simply friends.

Four years ago on May 1st, Myrna lost her husband Lonie to Pancreatic Cancer. However she would be the first to tell you that she didn't "lose" him...because she knows exactly where he is... He is in Heaven with our Lord! Just about the same time she also experienced her dad's "home-going".

During the loss of many of my loved ones my friend Myrna was there for me with prayers, encouragement and loving kindness. These four years since her husband's passing I have tried to be there for her too. Friendship is a give and take thing...and we have experienced both. We have both been in the position where we had to learn to be "gracious receivers", and accept help.

After Myrna's husband went to be with Jesus she closed her last shop here in town, and for the last few years she hasn't had a shop. She has been going to grief group and re-thinking her life. But recently she opened one again. She is a "shop keeper"...and I think it is just in her blood. It is her mission field. She is a caring person and very friendly, so people are drawn to her. I always say she is a "people magnet"! She shares her faith with the people she meets and through the years she has made many friends through her shops. It gives her a place to go everyday and a place where she can be a part of her community. I like to stop in and join in on the fun as I did just yesterday and we had several good giggles and laughs with the people who came in. I usually find something to purchase while I am there too. I have recently purchased two turquoise pendants, a silver chain and a silver and turquoise ring.

Her current shop is called Keepsakes and Treasures. I know this is because of the merchandise inside her shop...but I think it best describes the friends she makes in her shop. And I know for a fact that the friendship I found in her shop over 30 years ago is indeed a Keepsake and a Treasure to me.

18 comments:

Life Is Crazy Beautiful said...

Yes, indeed, our Myrna is a Keeper! (and a TREASURE). I am glad you have such a wonderful friend.
Love, Lisa

Kathy said...

This was a sweet post. I really enjoyed reading about your friend...Kathy

Kristin @ Yellow Bliss Road said...

What a wonderful friendship you share. Great post, I enjoyed reading. Thanks for visiting my blog and for youe sweet comments.

Jenilee said...

that is so sweet of you and it sounds like you have such a beautiful friendship! I hope she gets to read this post! :) what precious friends! thanks for linking up today!! hugs!

Deanna said...

Dear One,
You are a blessed Lady to have such a sweet friend!
Enjoyed this read.
God bless,
d

Gottjoy! said...

What a precious friend you have. True friends are treasures! I have a few in my life that are closer to me than a sister (I don't have any sisters) and I feel very blessed. And how wonderful that you both pray for each others' families.

Diana said...

Oh how beautiful, Linda! What a blessing to have such a special long-time relationship with a friend like your Myrna. Thank you so much for sharing her with us today! I really enjoyed reading about her! {hugz}

Unknown said...

Argh! I just left a comment and it lost it!!! Well, what I said before was that I loved this post... I love Myrna. I loved the pictures and ...

Yes, I do think Myrna was meant to be a shopkeeper.

Love you Momma.
Nettie

Carrie said...

That is so sweet, Linda. It brought tears to my eyes. Good friends are hard to come by...how blessed you are to have Myrna and how blessed she is to have you...God is so good...

Debbie Petras said...

I love friendships like this! What a blessing to have a Myrna in your life.

My sister owns a consignment shop and she is also a people magnet. I never heard that term though but it does describe Christine.

Thank you for your kind comment on Heart Choices today.

So glad you posted today.

Blessings and hugs,
Debbie

HappyascanB said...

What a precious tribute to an amazing lady and friend! I loved reading all about her!

Good to be a Queen said...

What a great friendship!...
I have something for you over at my place...You deserve this award.

Kristin said...

I just loved reading about Myrna and your friendship! She sounds like a precious lady. I was getting excited just reading about her shop. That is a dream of mine. I would love to own a resale shop or even a boutique one day.

Bekah said...

Good to read about beautiful friendships. Friends are such a blessing from God. I don't know where I would be without my friends! (AND my blogger chums :-) Speaking of friends, thank you so much for your comment - it made my day. :-)

I would LOVE to own a shop...ooh. That would be so much fun. I've always wanted one. :-)

Blessings on your day-
Bekah

Unknown said...

So sweet and what a precious friendship you have! Thanks for sharing, Linda!

Kmama said...

I'm finally paying you a visit after you so kindly came by and commented on my blog last week.

What a sweet, sweet story. Myrna sounds like a wonderful woman!

Holly said...

What a special friend! I'm glad that you met her. :)

It's nice to have those friends who are always there for you.

java girl said...

I just love how God brings friends into our lives just when he knows we are going to need them! Even blogging friends.

Standing back and reading a story of a friendship that was born out of consignment shopping, I know God is the great I AM :)