You Made a Difference in that One

 

Dear Alison,

I said farewell to you today. I sat at your Mama and Daddys house and looked at photos of you and your 36 years of life. I looked at my own contributions that I had poured over all week to choose...

-you and me at camp
-you and me on campus
-you as my maid of honor in my wedding
-you watching me hold your babies
-you and me at the beach
-you and me laughing

I listened to folks talk about you and to your sisters and parents and frinds and family. So many kind words were spoken about you:

-Mother Hen
-born to take charge
-"leadership skills could not be confused with bossiness"
-sweet. kind. compassionate.
-brutally honest (My favorite trait of yours!)
-subtle honesty
-upbeat attitude

2 corinthians 1:3-4 was shared at your celebration of life...

"Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,  the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort,  who comforts us in all our troubles."

God does comfort us. He does give us peace.

As I seek that comfort and peace I find myself remembering:

-bunk chats at Camp Wiregrass
-staying up all day and might and catching the sunrise
-cruising around Troy
-calling you on the way to the hospital to give birth to Elisha early to let you know you would have a 9/11 birthday buddy.
-Destin trips
-sharing teacher tips
-sharing mama strategies
-sharing pics of sunscreen and bug spray each summer cause the smell reminded us of camp
-calming phone calls
-so. many. more....

I played with your boys today . They have definitely inherited your brutal honesty.  They also inherited your kindness. I pray that Jarrad, Fletcher, Cooper, and Owen never forget how very special you are...

your impact on me is unmatched...

I know a story we heard every. single. day. of Senior week at camp that we often referred to... when you graduated college I gave you items that had those things on it so we could match...

The Starfish Story
One day a man was walking along the beach, when he noticed a boy hurriedly picking up and gently throwing things into the ocean. Approaching the boy, he asked, “Young man, what are you doing?” The boy replied, “Throwing starfish back into the ocean. The surf is up and the tide is going out. If I don’t throw them back, they’ll die.” The man laughed to himself and said, “Don’t you realize there are miles and miles of beach and hundreds of starfish? You can’t make any difference!”

After listening politely, the boy bent down, picked up another starfish, and threw it into the surf. Then, smiling at the man, he said,

“I made a difference to that one.”

Alison, YOU made a difference.  To your mama and daddy. To your sisters, Lindsay and Elizabeth.  To your husband Jarrad. To your three boys, Fletcher,  Cooper, and Owen. To friends. To family. To campers. To students. To coworkers.

You made a difference to ME.

I am heartbroken you are gone...36 years just doesn't seem long enough.... but I rejoice to know you are "walking down Heaven's Road" and rejoicing with Him.

I will miss you my friend.

Alison Huggins Tew
September 11, 1985 ~ November 25, 2021 

https://www.greenhillsfuneralhome.net/obituary/Alison-Tew

Peace and Blessings,
Amanda