Page 64 - Senior Link Magazine Spring 2019- Online Magazine

HONORING SENIORS
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Senior Senior Joan Clevenger

Friend

of a

Lifetime

by Ashley Gauntt

Great things can come from humble she has always been the person whom Joan has been my number one
beginnings. Growing up, Joan I look up to. I have been able to learn supporter for several years now,
Clevenger started every day by many things from her in the aspects and I am so glad that I have had the
making 400 biscuits at the children’s of my spiritual walk with Christ: how privilege of becoming her special
home where she grew up. Although to be encouraged, how to encourage friend. She supports me in everything
she did not have the luxuries that others, and how never to take what I I do, especially my extracurricular
many other kids her age had, she did have been given for granted. activities that I am involved in
not let it stop her from chasing her at school. When I have a choir
dreams and continuing to impact Whenever I get a chance to sit down performance coming up, although
people’s lives everywhere she went. with her and have a conversation, I she might not be able to make it, she
love to listen to her tell stories about always makes sure to tell me to do
Joan is a member of the Garland Street what it was like for her growing up. well. She always makes sure to check
Church of Christ, and I really got She took the little things that she was in on me and ask how I am doing in
to know her through the “adopted given, applied them to her life, and school and how everything in my life
grandparent” initiative. Members was able to get an education and is going. She is so kind, caring, and
of the youth group were paired make a living out of what she learned selfless, and she does many things
with a senior adult in the church by growing up in a children’s home. behind the scenes, but whenever she
community in order to learn more From each story that she tells, I am impacts someone’s life, that person
about each other’s generations. This able to find things that I should value remembers it forever. She has taught
also provided the teens with a chance in my own life and things that I can me many things, especially how to
to have someone to go to within the apply to my life to make it better. I am love others and how to care for those
church community. Joan was the one also able to look up to her for spiritual around me. She has taught me that
who picked me to be her “grandkid” guidance. Her relationship with God not everything that you do has to be
in the youth group. From the very first is so strong and so full of faith that, known to make people happy. She
day that I sat down with her at lunch, if I could have a faith that was half has taught me that you can never be
I knew that she would have a major as strong as hers, then I would be too old to serve and help others, and
impact on my life. Instead of calling in a good place. She loves the Lord you can never be too old to have fun
her my adopted grandparent, Joan with everything that she has, and she and have a good laugh. But most
asked if we could instead call each continually prays for others, and no importantly, Joan Clevenger has
other special friends. For four years matter what, she always praises God taught me that, when times are tough,
now, she has been a special friend for everything. to never give up, and even if you don’t
whom I can go to for anything, and

64 Lubbock Senior Link