Mel’s Shoes
Mel took one look at Miranda and me, and had the inspiration to write and sing a powerful song called “I Saw Love.” It was the song that Ashley so graciously wanted played and sung by Mel at our wedding, as Miranda escorted me down the isle to await my bride to arrive.
(Me and Miranda)
What a rare and unique gift that Mel possessed. The ability to see people in the lens as God see’s them, and love them accordingly. This came, no doubt, as the result of the overflow from her relationship with the Lord.
She not only sang about God’s love on stages all across Eastern NC, she also lived a life that was truly her most beautiful act of worship. The way she loved you, whether you wanted her too or not, was genuine and pure. Always reflecting Christ.
The song she wrote about Miranda was based on the look she saw in Miranda’s eyes when I walked in the room the first time Mel met my Miranda. Miranda is my big sister and has cerebral palsy. She has never been able to walk or talk, but that doesn’t mean she can’t communicate! Mel felt and saw her voice that day (loud and clear) and was inspired to write the song “I Saw Love.” Take a few minutes and listen to it yourself.
When I first heard it, I cried.
Mainly because I felt that Mel truly saw my sister in the way that Miranda deserves to be seen. Man, did Mel have a knack for doing that! She was like a fire hydrant of love that had exploded, gushing everywhere, with no way to turn the valve off! If you knew Mel Parnell, you know what I’m talking about. She was that way with the teenagers she poured her life into at the church we served at together in Smyrna, NC. She was that way with her family, especially her parents, as she cared for them in their home for years.
Mel, Her mom and great niece Emmy
She discipled people like Jesus did. Inviting them into her life, no matter how inconvenienced she may have felt inside, how tired she might have been, or how sick she was, even as cancer slowly drained her physical body of everything it had to offer. Caleb on the phone wanting to meet at church to play and worship after 10 at night? Mel was down. A young lady needing someone safe to talk to after midnight? Mel was always there to answer the call. A trip to a concert, or youth event, or revival? Yup. Sign her up! Or better yet, she would sign you up and bring you along!
Her writing “I Saw Love”, also highlighted how Mel lived in the sweet spot of her gifting. Now, don’t get me wrong. Mel did a ton of things and was pretty much down for anything she was asked to do! She had THE most desired Banana Pudding at Smyrna Church, as well as the tastiest Mexican dip that would be sought after often for youth events and get togethers. She served all over the church, volunteered at Hope Mission (food kitchen for homeless people) in her free time, and as she officially shifted into the role of youth pastor, she would burn up the highways supporting “her kids.” If you were one of Mel’s kids, you knew it. To be loved by her was to have a bonus mom, who would do anything she could for you, all while loving you to Jesus. But Mel was and is a worshipper. She was able to lead others because thats who she was. And it just oozed out of her. Never forced. Worship was who she was and is today!
She was a sister to me. A dear friend. When we started in our new positions together at Smyrna in July of 2008, her as the Worship Pastor and me as the Youth Pastor, we both had people in the church and community make comments to us about the “big shoes” we had to follow in our predecessor.
While discussing this over lunch one day (because when you live Down East, you get together and eat a lot!), we made a promise to each other to focus daily on putting on the shoes God wanted us to wear. In other words, wear your own shoes! Not someone else’s. Be ourselves and be completely faithful to the Lord. To not let the pressure that others place on us, to be what they think we should be and do, distract us from staying true to the unique way that God designed us to impact others.
There weren’t very many weeks that would go by, when one of us wouldn’t look at the other and say “You look good in them shoes!” while encouraging each other to stay true to that promise to the Lord. We knew our uniqueness from God didn’t need to be squandered in a reckless pursuit of the approval of man. We wanted to make God pleased and it was easy to look at Mel and say, “Girl, you look good in them shoes!”
I can’t think of a better example of someone who lived a more beautiful life. Beautiful because she daily lived to worship her Lord and to lead others to do the same. Walking in HER shoes, wherever HE led her to go, to WHO she needed to impact. With a smile that could warm the hardest heart.
“And how shall they preach, unless they are sent? How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!”
It’s hard to believe it’s been 3 years since Mel left this earth to be with her Savior. And while my heart selfishly longs for her to be here in person, I love seeing the fruits of her life and labor still blooming today.
Everywhere that Mel’s shoes walked, Jesus was with her. She stayed true to herself and loved like He did. She planted seed in others, every single day, in faith. Even when she was dwindling physically, her soul cried out and worshipped her Lord until her last breath.
Whose shoes are you wearing today? You trying to be like someone else? Cause when you try to wear someone else’s shoes, you get corns and bunions and plantar fasciitis and maybe a sprained ankle or shin splints or blisters or hammertoes.
You get what I’m laying down?
She used her personality and gifts and heart to impact others. Music was one of those ways she is still blessing others. In fact, since our boys came into our care 1000 days ago, we have played the CD of their “Uncle Caleb” and guess who recorded with him, singing and playing piano? Mel Parnell. So although my boys will never meet her in person on this earth, the fruits of her life is still influencing them every night as they listen to Caleb and Mel worship the Lord.
(Caleb and Mel)
Mel impacted others because she wore HER shoes. She is still impacting others today in ways she never dreamed about.
Let’s make sure WE are doing the same.
Make the most of each day. Live the kind of life that makes others look at you and say….
“You look good in them shoes!”
#todaysgonnabeagoodday
