By Lacy Strohrigl
There are few times in life when you meet a person who looks at you and you see genuine love in their eyes from the moment you meet. And I don’t mean romantic love. I mean Agape Love….God’s Love. It’s even more rare you’d swear that they eyes of God are staring back at you, as if He Himself were sitting across from you, listening as you tell your story and not this stranger, and you have no idea why you are telling your tale to this woman you barely know.
That was one of my very first encounters with Leanne Hadley. I am very particular with whom I share my story, especially at work. But for some reason, talking with Leanne that day in my office seemed like a natural time and space for me to spew it from my mouth like hot lava from a volcano. I didn’t expect judgement…who in their right mind would judge me for the hell I have been through?? But it is very personal, and a very hard story to tell at times. Yet she listened with an open heart and mind, as if I was telling her the most important story ever.
When my girls met Leanne, Callie became instantly connected to her, and if I hadn’t already figured out that there was something super special about Leanne, I would have known it right then. Callie is such a loving child, but she is very guarded, and knowing that Leanne broke through that shield of hers so quickly and so lovingly just brought me the joy and comfort I needed at that time in my life. It gave me the feel of “family” and Agape Love that we all longed for in those days and weeks and months. And she gave it to us without question. Leanne saw the heart of my babies the same way I did, and that spoke to her true heart and her true being.
The day she told us all she was leaving, the room was so somber, so heavy hearted, even though we were all glad that she was going forward to follow her calling. Knowing that this amazing woman who had fought for each staff member, who had developed such close personal friendships with each of us, was leaving in such a short time was a hard pill to swallow. How would we not completely fall apart? How would I even keep my job, because Lord knows no one understood me quite like Leanne Hadley? We all knew that we would be okay, we had to be. Yet we all knew we would never be the same.
So, Leanne, if one day you come across this, I hope you know how much you are loved and appreciated by not just the church staff, but by the young hearts and minds that you met along the road to where you have been called. While we all know you are going where God wants you to do the work you were born to do, you will always have a home in the hearts of all of those you have left here in Louisville. You will always be our family and just as you have shown us, we will always strive to continue your legacy of Agape Love.
Love you most,
Lacy – and everyone at work, and my girls
