on death and dying
yesterday was a day full of remembering.
this past week, Lacey’s grandmother past away and yesterday was her viewing, graveside, and funeral. it was several hours of thinking, reflecting, and remembering for the family and friends of Nana. and even though i didnt know her well, i know that she’s left an incredible legacy of serving Jesus and loving people.
as the pastor shared thoughts and “cute” acrostics during the service, i noted one thing: more than anything else that could be said about her during the service was that she believed that her relationship with her savior was more important than anything else. i was reading over lacey’s shoulder as she was re-reading a note she had written to her grandmother some time earlier…and in it she wrote about her favorite part of christmas being that they reflected as a family on the birth of Jesus every year…and that was the most important thing. I’d say that’s a rare reflection to be had in families…even Christian ones…its rare for people to grow up knowing Jesus is most important…even more than family game night or sports or school or tradition…(those things aren’t bad…they just aren’t Jesus).
as i thought about that, i couldn’t help but tear up.
because i was thinking how grateful i am to Nana (again, who i’d only met once).
but because of HER love of Jesus and instilling that into the families she loved so much, i got to now be with a young woman who is an incredible example of Jesus not only to me but with the rest of the world too.
and honestly, i was thinking about what i’d be remembered for. and its cliche and blah blah blah…
but i was thinking about it and i was trying to figure out really what i wanted to be remembered for.
i would not like to be known as just a guy who was nice.
as a guy who gave stuff to people or did good things with his time.
as a guy who worked in a church.
as a guy who just loved his family and friends…
i mean i like all those things…and i will try to do them more every day…
but if i’m not ultimately pointing people to Jesus, then those things all seem sort of worthless.
i pray that God teaches me more and more to point to Him and that everything i do would scream the message of the gospel to the world around me…
