Joy. Sheer joy. The joy of the Lord emanated from her eyes and put a lilt in her voice. She was quick to cut to the core of an issue and gave just the right rehma. She was generous to me. One Sunday morning at Fountain Gate, I was slated to sing and before the song, which had a reference to Mary pouring out costly perfume onto Jesus' feet, I mentioned that when getting ready for church that morning I had dropped my perfume bottle into the sink and it had shattered. It was a great anecdote because I had experienced just that morning the overwhelming scent of a perfume being poured out. When we got to church that evening, Sister Collins came up to me with a bottle of perfume from her collection to give to me. What a sweet and generous gift. Her spirituality was practical! Another time, I had visited the Collins' home to prepare for the music for a women's meeting. We got to talking and she shared the story of Joseph in the prison for all those years. That discussion has stayed with me for almost 30 years. I taught her voice for a few months. 'Twas a challenge, straightening out her Texas twang!! She was just a joy. Joy is the word for Sister Collins for me. Her life was a sweet smelling fragrance to the Lord, and it lingers.
