I am so privileged to have the opportunity to visit with members of St. Thomas to talk and share Life Journeys. Today was special because I had never had the pleasure of just visiting with Dee and it was a delight.
Dee’s mother was from Tampa and her father was from Lakeland. After they were married they moved to St. Petersburg and found St. Thomas Church. This was in the early sixties. Dee was born in St. Petersburg and baptized into the Episcopal Faith at St. Thomas. When Dee was nine years old her parents were divorced and they went to different churches but Dee never left St. Thomas. She and her husband, Bill, were married at St. Thomas by Father Christopher Thompson. Dee’s roots are very deep in St. Petersburg and St. Thomas Church. Bill and Dee now have two beautiful daughters.
It was no surprise when she told me that when she is at St. Thomas doing her work or attending meetings she always has a sense of Peace. It is more a feeling within of warmth and serenity.
Her father passed away when she was twenty years old and although he and her mother had divorced when she was nine, he had a great influence in her life. Her mother’s parents, who lived in Portland Oregon, had also had a big impact on her life. She and her brother spent their summers in Portland
doing a lot of fun things with the grandparents.
In 2008 she had been working in Wholesale Sales at Sun Trust Bank and when returning to work after her maternity leave, the market had changed and she was out of a job. This created serious problems for the family and some very great hardships. However, Dee was always spiritually connected to God and she never let go during this time. She believes that this difficult experience caused her to become a better listener to God. She says that now she lets Him lead. It was difficult letting go and letting God be in charge. Dee is after all is a leader, but God had the plan or the blue print. He leads. When we let Him lead everything falls into place. Soon a position was open at St. Thomas and she now works a schedule that fits perfectly with her family’s schedule.
Just another example where all things work together for good.
In March, her husband Bill lost his job and The Prayer line was praying that a door of opportunity would open for Bill. Dee didn’t know this, but she wanted to share with me how that door opened.
She said that after Bill spoke to the Wednesday night group, Stan Shaver called Bill and suggested that he should contact Ceridian where his son Frank works. Stan didn’t know if they were hiring or not, but he thought it wouldn’t hurt to try. Bill did as Stan suggested and he got the job. He now works with Frank.
This, says Dee, is how God works through our St. Thomas family. I am sure the Prayer Group would want me to thank Stan for being an instrument in bringing about the answer to our prayers. I am reminded of the song “I sing a song of the saints of God, for the Saints of God are folks just like me, and I mean to be one too. Isn’t it amazing how opportunities are right there in front of us every day? If we act on them it can make such a difference in some ones life.
Thanks Dee for taking time out of your busy schedule to share thoughts with me today.
Mary Hochadel
July 26, 2011
The St Thomas Blog
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