Monday, March 11, 2019
Of all my aunts, I spent the most time with Jean Strom. There are many important things that she impressed upon me in her direct but gentle way. As my mother's oldest sister, Aunt Jean was similar to her and yet also distinctly different. She would often smile about things as if she knew a secret that she wasn't telling anyone---at least, not yet. Always the optimist, she had a cheerful and generous heart. She loved to laugh. My Uncle Bob, an extremely humorous man, was the perfect husband for her. No matter what life brought along, he would always say something funny, and she would always laugh at what he said. Then he would keep going, and she would laugh even more.
My earliest memories of Aunt Jean and Uncle Bob were at their home in Morton Grove, Illinois, where they hosted Thanksgiving meals for the extended family. The festivities took place in their furnished basement, which was equipped with a full kitchen that steamed with delicious food. I had enormous fun there. There were numerous toys on hand that their sons Lenny and Michael had outgrown, and if I became too noisy, their daughter Linda Jo would suddenly produce a sketchbook and ask me if I would draw her a picture. Even though she had pulled this diversionary tactic on me before, I always fell for it because I loved any excuse to draw something. On one particular occasion after everyone had feasted, Aunt Jean sat down next to me and also expressed interest in my nonexistent talent. I drew her a special picture and signed it, "To Ant Jean", to which my mother verbally expressed mortification because she was home-schooling me. I remember looking at my error with sadness and then looking apologetically at Aunt Jean. She smiled kindly at me and said, "That's okay, kiddo." "Kiddo" was her nickname for me, and hearing it convinced me that all was good.
After my parents moved from the Chicago area to a secluded farm in Indiana, I remember boxes of gifts that Aunt Jean and Uncle Bob sent us for Christmas. One of mine was an action figure that became one of my favorite toys, and I still have it. It has survived countless moves and even a house fire. Even though it's now a collector's item, I don't ever want to part with it.
I missed Thanksgivings with Aunt Jean and Uncle Bob, but each year they would stop by to visit during their annual summer vacation trip to Florida. When I was 16, they decided to take me along. The memories of those two weeks spent with them and their grown children, who also travelled there, are too numerous to mention. I had not seen my three cousins in years, and I was glad to see that they were doing well in life. Linda Jo was married, Lenny was dating a beautiful girl, and Michael, who I believe was studying at a prestigious college, looked like a body builder. I couldn't help but wonder if a social misfit like me had any chance of achieving some of my own dreams and ambitions.
These thoughts came up for me again a year later during my Aunt and Uncle's next visit. Aunt Jean would make a point of spending quality time with me. One day she found me alone in the greenhouse transplanting seedlings and said she wanted to help. I was especially grateful for this opportunity to speak to her privately, and tried to articulate my concerns that my sheltered routine did not promote or prepare me for any future beyond working my parent's farm, something that I did not want to do for the rest of my life. She seemed to think about it for several moments, and then simply said, "It'll be okay, kiddo." This time, however, hearing "kiddo" was not enough. I asked her how she could be sure, and then she smiled that mysterious smile. I tried to wait patiently for a different response, but after what seemed like an eternity I told her that I really, really wanted to know. Finally she said, "These things have a way of working themselves out, because somebody up there is looking out for you." She was still smiling. "It may not seem like it, and you may not believe it, but it's true."
Over twenty years went by before I figured out that she had prayed for me, and that was why she believed things would work out. Prayers answered by a loving God are the reason that I am where I am today. I didn't do well after leaving the farm in 1988, but after calling out to Jesus in 2000, my life began an amazing turnaround. I was healed of a crippling anxiety disorder that had reduced me to poverty; I started a new career, married a fantastic woman, and eventually became a pastor. Aunt Jean couldn't make those things happen for me, but she knew someone who could. I'm deeply grateful that God put her in my life to plant seeds that pointed the way to Him. Of all the gifts she ever gave me, this was undeniably the greatest.
There is much more that I could say about this great lady. I know that my Aunt Jean was also a blessing to many other people, having done many things, large and small, to positively affect the lives of those around her. My sincere condolences to all of you, who, like me, will never stop loving and appreciating her. God bless you.
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