Revised: A Person of Influence in My Life

A Person of Influence in My Life


In our lives we are occasionally blessed to have a person that leaves an enduring print on the path we trod. There is one such person that comes to my mind that had a life changing influence on my views, and who I have become. She was not a dynamic individual at first glance. She dressed very conservatively, was very quiet spoken, never shared her opinions unless asked, and was not a beauty in appearance. How could such a person have such an impact on me? Perhaps if I share some of the things that happened between us over several years time you will come to the same conclusions that I did.

This lady came into my life when I entered 6th grade. We had moved into a small Alaskan village on an island in the Kodiak archipelago. The first day of the school year the tides were high and water was up around our house to such a degree that my two brothers and I had to put on hip boots and try to find the higher ground in order to make our way above the water level, so we could get to school. (This water issue was due to the recent earthquake that had caused our island to sink between 6 and 13 feet---depending on the location). We arrived at our new one room school with wet pants, boots and feet. We weren’t sure what in the world we should do about our plight and debated on leaving when the teacher opened the door and greeted us with a huge smile. She said, “Take off your boots and drain the water out, and we will hang them up in here over the heater. Then we will go downstairs to my apartment and I’ll find something for you to wear while I wash and dry your clothes.” She found us warm clothes and a cup of cocoa to take back up to class where she proceeded to introduce us to our new classmates. We found that this was a normal type of response to whatever situation might come into our small classroom. There was always a gentle and thoughtful action that exuded from her very being. We were only blessed by this teacher for one year. It was with great sorrow that we bid her goodbye at the end of the school year.

Three years later high school was looming before me. This was a huge change as I would have to leave our village and go to boarding school. The town of Kodiak was in the process of building dorms so that they could help meet the needs of Alaska high school students. The dorm was not going to be ready for at least a year, so we were put in peoples’ homes. I was placed in a home with a woman that had recently lost her husband and mother. She needed someone who could help her with her four young children. The situation was not ideal and within a short time began to deteriorate. One dismal day I found myself locked out with a note saying that I was not to return. I was 13, and totally alone. I went to the boarding student councilor who had been having weekly updates about me from my boarding home parent. I had no idea there was a storm brewing in our home, and the problems that I was accused of causeing were not even issues that were or had ever been a part of my life.
I had to radio my parents and let them know I was on the street. My mother was on the next plane to town and after a day found me a new home. Yes indeed, it was that kind and generous teacher I had in 6th grade.

This lady lived in a “microhouse”. It was so small two people could hardly pass each other in the living room! My new “Mom” was in her 60s, but she insisted I had to have the only bed in the house because I was a student and needed my sleep. She would not bend on this, so she took the couch, gave up her closet, and personal space. During this year I remember things like accidentally loosing the spaghetti noodles down the sink just as company was coming in the door for dinner. She just laughed and said everyone had moments like that. I was so embarrassed and she was so gracious and smoothed it over so quickly that the company didn’t even know of my blunder.

Then, there was the time she was teaching me to drive, and due to removing a coat I drove us off the road, flew over a creek, and into a field. She just laughed and said, “Well, I guess we know not to do that again.” A fellow helped us get back on the road, and she got back in the passenger seat! I was shaking so bad I had no desire to drive again, but I knew the expectation so followed through. There was no condemnation and no stories ever told. The following year, this generous woman rented a larger home so that my younger brother could join us until she retired the following year. We have no memories of anything but generosity, kindness, and encouragement during our time with her.

There was such a stark difference in how this lady lived and what I had experienced in my life. I wanted to have the views and attitudes that made her such an amazingly sweet person who was never defeated by anything. I once asked her what made her so different. She assured me that if I saw any good in her it was because Jesus was a part of her life, and He helped her be who she was. I took that to heart and determined to follow her example. This amazing woman has been my model through many difficult circumstances, and I feel blessed that she has left her print on my life. I pray that as I work with so may young lives that I might have the opportunity to likewise leave my mark on those that will come after.