Last October, my sister invited me to spend the day delving into the Monsters in my Closet at her small, local church. The conference was designed and presented by the women’s group of which she is a member. I was impressed to witness the camaraderie of women spanning young to mature and the way each and every lady in attendance supported and interacted with the others. This is a testament to the caring spirit of their character. The entire day (and the day before while setting up and decorating) demonstrated that women can and do support each other surrounding a common goal.
One of the organizers carried the theme through her creative and vibrant decorations, pulling together the colorful cute monsters from table decorations to wall décor, to serving table and beyond. My sister’s paper clip ornaments were perfect favors, and one lady’s ice breaker gave us an opportunity to “meet and greet” a variety of participants, setting the stage for an interactive retreat.
The chairwoman’s overall retreat leadership was evidenced in both her comments and the consistency of speakers and their handouts. Planning and executing such an event are tasks not for the faint of heart. Well done!
Each presenter gave us food for thought –on Pride, on Anger, on Selfishness, and on Jealousy. The presentations were informative, interesting, and fun. Another lady energized the group with her after-lunch game, offering an opportunity to re-engage minds and bodies for the afternoon.
They chose a charity to support – Refuge for Women – whose director served as a keynote speaker. Her talk was eye-opening and the support of the organization in bringing items needed and financial support was admirable. I found it fascinating to learn of an organization that shepherds lost souls back to mainstream life, if such an opportunity truly exists for victims of sex trafficking. So sad to have these types of monsters in closets. I was saddened to learn of the slavery that exists in 2024 and that family members are most of the perpetrators. The speaker gave us an awareness – a wakeup call, if you will.
To lighten spirits after the heartbreaking stories, a craft provided participants with a creative, hands-on outlet to carry us through the afternoon. The woman coordinating the craft had components already gathered making the exercise efficient and satisfying.
Discussion group leaders encouraged deep reflection on the ideas from earlier in the day. And the food! Oh my, these ladies were wonderful cooks and bakers! Everything was (or looked) delicious!
All-in-all the ladies – individually and collectively made an impact on everyone who attended. I congratulate them on a successful event. Conferences are not easy to pull off. A lot of planning before execution is required, as is strong and trustworthy leadership.
At our age we can lead, to mentor, and/or to participate in meetings and conferences. Hopefully, we will be reminded of the time and effort required by the planners and speakers and remember to compliment and thank them for a job well done.
Silver Sage Sisters 