I wrote this and then read it at Jan’s funeral, I tried to sum her up, which is impossible but these were some things that stood out in my mind..I’ll miss her, but she left an AMAZING legacy!
What can I say about Jan? I loved her as if she was an aunt. One of the things that stand out in my mind is when we took her classes at SHARE. From spending hours with her in the stuffy "rainbow" room to dissecting cow eyes she always had a smile on her face. I remember the lunch times we had at McDonalds on Tuesdays, when my mom, Sue Stuut and Jan would scold us teens about our unhealthy food. While Jan sat there, never without her Dr. Pepper. During classes she would often tell jokes and pause for our response with a smirk on her face. As we all stared back wide eyed in confusion, she would erupt into laughter but always make sure to assure us that she was laughing WITH us and not AT us.
She was an amazing teacher and she loved it so much. She said she wanted to prepare us for college homework, with the homework load she laid on us I think we’d be ready for going to Mars! Even with the amazing teacher she was its not the thing I loved most about her. Besides the fact that her being in my life brought Aliscia, one of my best friends to me, I admire her most for her love of Jesus.
Not only did she say she loved Jesus she lived it. It was impossible to come in contact with her and walk away doubting if she was sincere. She was constantly bringing up the hope in a seemingly hopeless situation. She would speak into my life often. Most times she would do so until I was annoyed. I was annoyed only because I knew that the point she was making was true and that I was in fault on my position in a situation. I can see her sitting in the rocking chair in my living room during one of the lady’s prayer times, she would get so excited when they talked about God and what he was doing. Her face would light up and she would begin to speak louder and louder as the other ladies joined in all talking at once.
When I look back Jan didn’t only leave a legacy of being a good school teacher. For me she left a dual part legacy. First and foremost she was a genuine example of living sacrificially and unashamedly for the love of her life- Jesus. Secondly she showed me things about God and His love in ways I hadn’t seen before. Ultimately I feel God called her to be a teacher, at least in my life. She was always praising God and praying for others, thinking about other people rather than herself. The last time I saw her, just last week she was praising God and praying for Dwight’s aching back. To see her praying for others while we were all lifting HER up in prayer was a humbling sight.
I would have to say that the last thing she taught me was to see that God is always good and deserves all our praise not just when we are on the mountains, but in the valleys as well.
Janice Marie Leo
Wound me friends..
Hey guys, I've been thinking, a whole lot, a phenomonon that happens more and more often now a days. Anyways, I want to clean out ANY trash in my life, even the ones that I am hiding in the corner...hoping no ones sees or that I forgot. So, friends, any of you that may read this, please help me.
I don't want pride, I dont want selfishness, or self-righteoussness to be anywhere in my life. I know that I have to choose everyday to not give into these desires of my flesh, I have to chose to think, smell and look like Jesus.
So i'm simply blogging to say that I want more than anything else to genuinely represent Christ and His love to everyone around me. As christians, we need to raise the standard for the church, be real and not put on a mask. So I'm asking you all to be my wounding friends. So please if you see anything in me tell me, I may not react in a receptive way, but I'll try. I want anything in me that grieves the heart of God, ANY OF THE THINGS I DONT REALIZE are there to go. So tell me, help keep me accountable. Call me out if you see me judging, or being self righteouss. Please! I know sometimes its easier for people out of the box to see things that I dont inside me or the way I act..
So thats it, thats all, I just am asking you to help me along, sharpon me, wound me.
