As I sit here reflecting on this day – a day of remembering you,
I am thankful for the beauty of the day.
It seemed to reflect your spirit and the legacy you left behind.
A quiet, gentle sky.
A warm sun, like your handshake.
A light breeze of God’s breath on those who miss you.
And as night falls,
There is a peaceful ending to a day
Filled with its own colors of reflection:
Of mourning, of rejoicing.
Of sadness, of laughter.
Of remembering.
And there is strength in the quiet reflections.
I expect tears of joy flowed in your soul at the beautiful voice of your Savior when you entered heaven.
My heart is sad that I didn’t get to see you before you left, or hear you call me “trouble” one more time.
Though I imagine you talking with Jesus about who in heaven you might tease and call “trouble”, all the while smiling as you talk with Him.
I miss you. I miss not being able to give you a hug on Sunday mornings (sometimes two hugs), or feel you tap me on the back, and then give that mischievous grin when I turn around. And we laugh. No matter what was going on in your life or mine, your focus was on Jesus and on encouraging and carrying each other’s burdens – because you loved Jesus and He filled you completely.
You were always ready to build up our kids in the Lord, including them in being servants of Christ in the church, which challenged them to take that outside the church as well. And you turned everything back around to God and the importance of simply trusting Him and praising Him in everything.
I was thinking today of the verses where the apostle Paul challenged believers to imitate him:
1 Corinthians 11:1
“Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ.”
Philippians 3:12-17
“Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal,
but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me.
Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it.
But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead,
I press on toward the goal to win the prize
for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.
All of us, then, who are mature should take such a view of things.
And if on some point you think differently, that too God will make clear to you.
Only let us live up to what we have already attained.
Join together in following my example, brothers and sisters,
and just as you have us as a model, keep your eyes on those who live as we do.”
Thank you for being that example. Thank you for being my friend. Thank you for loving us, praying for us, building us up when we were discouraged, and rejoicing with us. Thank you for being such a great light and not hiding it “under a bushel.” I promise to pray for your family and friends that are left behind for a little while, just as you prayed for everyone.
I miss you. And I can’t wait to see you again in heaven!
Hebrews 13:7-8
“Remember your leaders, who spoke the word of God to you.
Consider the outcome of their way of life and imitate their faith.
Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.”