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November 12, 2024

I would like to share an email that I received from Larry & Terry Anderson, MIC Alumni and host couple from Albany, Oregon.

Hi Fran,

I wanted to share with you something we have found helpful. As we have done our PTA's over the past 2 years one of the things that Jesus has shared with us is an ever-deepening vision of the concept of unity. Often we will search for metaphors to try to understand what He is telling us. There has been one image that we find ourselves returning to over and over, so much so that we added a visual reminder to our routine.  I've attached a picture of our fireplace mantle. Aside from the seasonal decorations, you'll notice three jars, one larger and filled with marbles. Once there were only the two smaller jars sitting side by side, and the marbles were evenly split between the two. One jar was "Terry", with the different colored marbles representing all her personality traits, her hopes and dreams, her needs and desires - everything that makes up Terry. The other jar was "Larry", and all that makes him unique.

For 40 years we have lived out our marriage as if our two jars were side by side - close, but separate. As we learned more from our PTA about the kind of unity God planned for us in marriage, what came to mind was Jesus pouring our two jars into one larger container, saying "These two shall become one", and then pouring Himself into the airspace around us in the jar. All of who we were is still in there, but we've each allowed all of ourselves to be poured into a new vessel, a new being.

We are learning to reject the temptation to sort through our spouses' "marbles" and toss the less desirable ones out of the jar. Now it is our job and our privilege to learn to love ALL of the contents of the jar, not just the ones that were originally our own. While some of our guests may wonder if the jars represent all the marbles they figured we have lost, the jars serve as an anchor for Terry and me, reminding us of who we once were, who we are now, and of a fundamental shift in our existence. 

We are so grateful for MIC and for PTA materials!

Thank you for considering a financial contribution to our ministry.

Fran Willard

Executive Director

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