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Touching others with your life

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The FlyLady column by Marla Cilley
www.flylady.net

You never know how your life can touch the lives of others. When I got organized in 1999, it was because I didn’t want my fellow Transylvania County Commissioners to find out my dirty little secret that I could not keep house. This all started because I didn’t want anyone to know that I was a messy person.

Fear is a funny thing! It can empower, or it can paralyze. We have all heard about the mother who can pick up a car when her child’s life is endangered. Most of us know that “deer in the headlights” feeling of being overwhelmed and not having a clue what to do first! 

I was tired of feeling defeated before I ever got stared! That’s when I made my last two New Year’s resolutions. One was to keep my kitchen sink clean and shiny, and the other one was to be nice to me! I made these two simple resolutions because every year I always broke the one big one, to “get organized”! 1999 was the year I figured it out for myself! It was also the year that I started helping others.

One person asked for my help, and I set up an e-mail group to stay in touch with her. I never dreamed that so much more would happen. A few weeks ago I received a testimonial from a 16-year-old senior in high school named Chrissie. She had posted her message on our FlyLady forum, and one of our members made sure that I saw it.

Chrissie’s mother had died two months earlier. This precious mother was in the prime of her life when she had to leave her five children. Chrissie was the oldest girl and determined to help her father with her younger siblings. Her testimonial was about how she was using her mother’s FlyLady Control Journal and how it had helped her with the Halloween preparations. She was looking forward to planning her first Thanksgiving meal for the whole family and Christmas.

Let me tell you her testimonial has had us all in tears for a couple of weeks now. I did a little searching in my computer to find out if I had ever gotten an e-mail from Chrissie’s Mom. I did not find one from her mom, but one from Chrissie’s grandmother.

This message was from two and a half years earlier. She had asked if I would mention her daughter in a speech I was giving. Her daughter was undergoing chemotherapy and was not up to attending the event. I had not seen it then, but that did not stop me from making a speech that was just for her. I like to call those moments God Breezes!

That morning we had a Memorial Breakfast in honor of all the mothers who had died the previous year. This set the tone for my talk. I never know what I am going to talk about until I get up to speak. My speech was about leaving a legacy for your family, setting the example and getting your home in order to make the most of your life! Chrissie’s mom was not able to join us that day, but six months later she downloaded that speech from our website. This speech was just for her.

We had recorded my talk, and it was the first time we ever offered it as a download. My sister had not wanted me to put that sad speech on our website. She said that I had cried a lot and that it was melancholy. I told her that I had never given a speech quite like that, and there had to be a reason for it. It had to go up! Now we know the reason!

FLYing had prepared Chrissie’s mom to leave her children with a legacy of peace and joy. She was determined to get her home in order. They have great memories of a mom who loved like there was no tomorrow. You never know whose life you will touch but rest assured, people are watching and you can make a difference.

I am humbled by Chrissie’s testimonial and the picture of her mother’s headstone with the FlyLady logo above these words; She touched everyone with her special love and kindness. I am thankful that I had eliminated my clutter so I could follow the God Breezes as they came my way. Do you have your sails up?

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