I assumed from the onset that Estelle must have had a very easy life. I remember as a young girl, I went with my parents to visit a couple who had been going through some very rough times. The woman looked terrible. She had deep, deep lines under her eyes, her skin was rough, and her hair frazzled and worn out. I asked my mom "Why does she look like that?" and she answered "She's had a rough life." I suppose that I deposited that "truth" deep within myself. To this day, or until now maybe, I believed that going through hard times makes you look worn. I worried that if I risked too much, if I loved too hard, if I really put myself out there and completely failed...that it would be visible on my face.
At my coffee meeting with Estelle, I discovered some things. Estelle, was born in 1940, but it is very obvious within minutes of getting to know her, that she does not see herself as an "older" person. Estelle is a life long learner, who taught herself how to use Twitter from its inception. Not only does she love growing organic tomatoes; she can out hashtag any 12 year old who cut their teeth on a mobile device. Estelle, is simply...fascinating!
The most important thing I dicovered about Estelle, is not that hers has been an easy life. But that her deep faith and very tangible relationship with God has given her the grace to continue on and to come through big challenges with a timeless elegance and beauty that has come from leaning heavily on this deep relationship with Him to ease her burdens. Estelle lives an energetic and purpose filled life, driven by her desire to give hope to others that they can overcome any obstacle in their life, with God's help. The only lines she wears on her face are the reflections of God's smiling on a well lived life spent leaning firmly on Him.
The coffee was strong and bold....so was the company.
