Gemstones 17/30
She lingered.
It was after worship practice. We stood in the lobby talking like we always did, but something was different. I could see it. She wasn’t saying goodbye, but her eyes were. She looked like someone waiting for one more question.
I never asked it.
I was busy.
Busy protecting a schedule. Busy protecting a service. Busy protecting a place that kept telling us to develop people while quietly handing us more tasks than people could carry. I thought I was serving well. I didn’t realize how often the work was getting in the way of the people standing right in front of me.
Her family was one of my favorites. Genuine. Easy to laugh with. The kind of people who never seemed interested in putting on a show.
One day her husband was singing from the congregation. His voice stood out, so he was put on the worship team. Later, someone decided he didn’t look the part. New clothes were bought. A different image was encouraged.
That story has stayed with me.
Not because of the clothes.
Because I keep wondering how many little moments like that slowly teach people that being themselves isn’t enough.
That night in the lobby was the last time I saw her in that building.
I wish I’d asked one more question.
She is Picture Jasper.
This stone is so special. Every piece looks different. No two patterns match because no two stories do. That’s the beauty of it. It was never meant to look like the stone beside it.
Neither was she.
Honestly, Sandie 
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