“For if we live, we live to the Lord, and if we die, we die to the Lord. So then, whether we live or whether we die, we are the Lord’s.” (Romans 14:8)
Leave it to a funeral to remind me to love those near me, those far away from me. I look at my wife and see that each moment is precious; each is a gift from God. I remember to tell her that I love her and that I am glad she is on this journey with me. I remember those friends with whom I have lost contact and wonder where they are now and what I might have lost by not caring enough to give them a call.
Leave it to a funeral to make me want to apologize to those who I have hurt, to forgive those who have hurt me. Jesus says to forgive without end. Throughout life we make mistakes and mistakes are made against us. We have a brief opportunity to make amends while on this rock, and each chance we have to forgive or ask for forgiveness should be taken with fervor.
Leave it to a funeral to give me a desire to learn more about my God, to develop a closer relationship with Him. Though we will not fully know Him until this life passes, I want to uncover as much as I can about my God. When I get to heaven, I want to be able to reminisce with God about the times we had on earth, about the times we shared together, about the times when we laughed and the times we cried.
Leave it to a funeral to remind me how little we know about death and how much we want to avoid the subject. The sensation of death is only known to those whose soul has already left this earth leaving us, the living, wondering, waiting. Death is hardly the conversation topic of choice. Because we do not know, because we have not experienced it, the subject creates uneasiness. Especially among those who do not have hope for the afterlife, death, the end, is a matter to avoid. I do not envy their position.
Leave it to a funeral to make me want to cherish every moment that I have, that God has given me. As I have gotten older, time has seemed to take on a newer, faster pace. When I was young, the days were slow, Christmas seemed to never come. Now, I go to sleep in January and somehow wake up in June, uncertain of where the time has hidden itself. As hours, days, weeks, months, years get shorter, I am reminded to grab hold of each moment and savor each instant. We need to slow down our warp speed lives and relax a little, enjoy a little.
Leave it to a funeral to make me once again understand the beauty of salvation. Though we will not always be here on this planet, we will always live. There will be life after this short trip, and because of what Christ did with His time on earth, we are able to spend a beautiful eternity in His presence. We can live beyond the grave.
Dig Deeper:
Today’s Prayer:
Dear Lord, thank you for being present in the midst of my hurting. Death is difficult to wrap my head around, but I trust that You are still moving in my life. Give me peace and understanding as I am grieving.