Condolence: Ms. Farley Massey was a member of Christ Church Adult Sunday school in 1967-8 soon after my family had moved to Winchester from Roanoke. I was new to the area, and didn’t have any friends here. I was either blessed or cursed with a questing temperament, and thought the youth Sunday school was rather silly. I wanted answers to questions like how do we know Jesus said and did what was recorded in the Bible? Why doesn’t God love everyone, like those who aren’t Christian? Why did Christians have slaves?! …you get the idea.
So, being the pest I was, I insisted on attending the Adult class, where I assumed they were talking about “real stuff”. Farley Massey supported my petition, and was the most welcoming adult in that Sunday School. I’ve never forgotten her, and my life probably changed for the better because of her.
Thank you Ms. Massey, for lifting me up to look around more in life. I may not have gotten all the answers right away, but I certainly have been able to climb out of the cultural box I was expected to stay in. I’ve earned three degrees, repaired bicycles, raised my kids and others’, started a successful business 46 years ago, and had a long nursing/NP career. I’ve been a Baha’i since 1974. I’ve been to Israel, Thailand, Nicaragua, England, Mexico, and Canada.
You never know how a vote of confidence for a teen can be a wonderful gift, along with help from many other mentors and friends.
Thank you. God bless you, surround you with His transforming Love, and accept you into the kingdoms of Light and Mystery.
Sallie (Lukens) Ebert Grundman