Life Lessons from Norma
January 01, 2020
Change, in small quantities, is not something I’m very fearful about. However, my
freshman year was a difficult time because of many changes: a new school, a new city,
and new people. But with that also came new experiences and new opportunities. One
of those new opportunities was connecting with a senior adult in the community named,
Norma Buckman, through ElderServe. ElderServe is a special ministry offered to us
as OBU students that connects us with an elderly adult in the community. Typically,
you meet with them for at least one hour a week to either complete daily household
chores that may be difficult for them or just simply to offer companionship.
I first got connected with Miss Norma when Mrs. Judy Duvall, the director of ElderServe,
sent out an email to students saying there was an elderly adult who was in need of
some help due to her health issues. Her troubles with health issues, which included
fifteen long years of battling multiple types of cancer, were quite similar to my
Grandad’s story. To honor my Grandad, I wanted to serve this woman in whatever capacity.
By doing life together, she became so much more than just “my elder”- she became
like my grandmother and really just another member of our family, my mentor, and my
biggest fan. Going to see her was never a chore as it really was just sweet fellowship with a
dear friend. It was always the highlight of my week and a bright spot amidst the craziness
of college life.
The idea behind ElderServe is that you are there to be a blessing to them. For me,
Miss Norma was an absolute blessing in my life. She taught me incredible lessons about
never losing faith when there seems to be no hope, about strength in difficult times,
about extending grace to those who have hurt us, but, most importantly, how to love
the life we’ve been given and those in it. Her life wasn’t easy, but she never failed
to see the good in every day. I can never fully express how much these lessons have
impacted me, but even more than that, I can never find the right words to explain
how richly blessed I have been through Elder Serve and Miss Norma.
I’m a firm believer that God brings certain people into our life for a specific reason
and season. Sometimes he calls them back all too soon and we can never fully understand
why. It is in this time we can reflect and truly appreciate His goodness and how He
has blessed us tremendously. When Miss Norma passed away earlier this semester I felt
such loss but also such gratitude for the chance I had to know her. Someone once encouraged me to wake up every day asking not what I can do for myself
but what I could do to serve others. It was a joy, honor, and privilege to serve Miss Norma, and it wouldn’t have been
possible without ElderServe.
Maggie Donnell, Junior Social Justice Major
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