This morning, on the outskirts of our local farmer’s market, I met a lovely, elderly lady, tall and slender, with short, stylish, salt and pepper hair. Dressed in what appeared to be comfortable lounge wear, she sat her handbag down in order to zip up her long, “puffer” overcoat against the cool October breeze. 

I started our conversation with, “That’s a nice coat,” followed by asking if she was having a good day. Her daughter had dropped her off at the entrance to the farmer’s market while she parked the car. The lady gave a hesitant half frown and slight shoulder shrug in response to my inquiry. “I can’t walk very far these days,” she said. 

I asked if she was from the area, and she shared that she had come from Asheville, North Carolina, but she wasn’t from there either. Conyers, Georgia was her home, and she had lived there for decades. She had taught first and second grade for thirty years and had been retired another thirty years before moving to North Carolina, where her children had relocated. And where her children went, no doubt pursuing their own lives and following career paths, she, as their aging mother, presumably in need of care, ultimately had to follow. “It was a mistake,” she said. 

Our brief encounter did not allow for an in-depth exchange about why it had been a mistake, but last year’s Hurricane Helene was a contributing factor with its devastating impact on Asheville and the surrounding area. A large tree had crashed into their small back yard, and they had boiled their water for more than fifty days.  She missed her old home.

Moments later, having procured parking, her daughter, a seemingly caring person, arrived on foot and tenderly asked her mom if she was ready to enter the market. I bade them farewell and wished them a good day. I never caught the lady’s name, so I am choosing to call her “Miss Conyers,” similar to how I called all my own elementary school teachers - Miss Glenn, Miss Ellison, Miss Shipley….  In my brief interaction with Miss Conyers, my impression of her was that of a sweet and lovely person, and I’d venture to guess she was a good and dedicated school teacher, who made a difference in the lives of many little ones.

My heart goes out to her and all like her who once had a career, raised a family, and made a home in a community dear to their hearts, but out of one necessity or another, had to leave the familiar for the foreign in order to be cared for during their twilight years. Those decisions and choices can be difficult, even heart-wrenching.

So, my prayer in this moment is for all those who are aging, especially those who must be uprooted, and for all those providing care for their elderly and often health-compromised loved ones. May God’s grace strengthen and sustain you in whatever bittersweet circumstances you may find yourselves in today. And God bless Miss Conyers. May she find Your silver lining.