As a child, Bonnie loved going with me on missions of mercy.  She loved helping people, she loved making and taking food and visiting shut ins.  She loved helping disadvantaged adults learn to read.  She especially loved old people.  That was a gift from God, I believe.  In a nursing home, Bonnie was a star.  The old ladies just loved her to death.  How unusual for a child to be so interested in talking to those who society had pretty much abandoned.  Bonnie seemed to adore them, and they adored her.  This is an attribute that Bonnie carried into her adult life.  When she was in her twenties and could still work, she loved being a CNA and caring for seniors.  That is one of the characters in Bonnie that I have admired so much.

     As an adult, there was one other quality about Bonnie above others that I have esteemed- her ability to forgive.  If there is anything closer to Godliness than love, I believe it is the gift of forgiveness.  It didn’t matter if a person had stolen from her, said hurtful things, lied to her, or done anything else harmful, Bonnie would forgive that person.  If they had borrowed money, and never paid it back, she would loan them money again.  She and I often had disagreements when she would let people who had abused her in the past move right back into her life and/or her home.  Over the years, she had many, many people living with her and off of her.  I wanted her to be firm and not allow people to use her.  But it wasn’t in Bonnie’s nature to turn anyone away.  She wanted everyone to love her, and of course, this was her greatest strength, and also her greatest weakness.  Nevertheless, it is a quality I admire and wish I had more of myself.  I know Jesus taught us to pray, “And forgive us our sins, as we forgive those who sin against us.”  Well, since that is the case, I know that Bonnie is experiencing a wonderful grace in heaven.  I thank God for that and for her example.  We will all miss her terribly!