Death of a Wise Woman

Every so often in life, we meet someone who is different in age and beliefs yet touches us forever just by being who they are.

On Friday I attended the funeral of one such woman. We'd met when I was living in the small town of Waihi and I had gone to interview her for a Home and Garden section of a newspaper. Her garden was magical. She'd created a series of 'rooms', each one designed to give whoever was visiting a different feeling. She was a master gardener and artist. I've yet to find another garden the same!

We talked for hours and later I brought my children back to visit her...they played for hours in her garden. In the years that followed, I was pregnant and then birthed number four and Wendy was the one person who I could just show up and she'd be happy to see me and the kids. To be honest, it's not so easy when you have a 0,1 &2 year old...it gets a bit much to visit people! I kind of feel like we are too much!

There is, of course, so much more to say, and this is not written as an obituary to her. I went and said goodbye to her and asked her if there was anything I could do for her. Her reply? Look after your children and be true to yourself. How right that is for all of us mums.

When I think about what makes someone wise I think of Wendy. And here's the key: wisdom is allowing other people to be who they are, free from judgement and condemnation. (obviously i'm not talking about violence etc). When we are true to ourselves, we allow others to be true to themselves.

Look after your children and be true to yourself.

Mxxx