Recently, my family
suffered a huge loss. A loss that left
an undeniable hole in the very fabric of our family. My brother, Jim, was such a huge, loving
presence in my family. Everyone was
touched by his life in some way. His
heart was so full of love. His kindness
was so sincere. His encouragement was
certainly motivating. And his laugh was
contagiously joyous. As we grieved over
the loss of our beloved, I couldn’t help but remember the saying “What story do
you want to be told?” It was as if my
brother lived in such a way that would bring honor to God as his story would
later be told. It was as if he
consciously wrote a page each day that would ultimately weave together a story
that was indeed written by a pen in the hand of God.
In John 15:5, Jesus said,
“I am the vine; you are the branches. If
you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit.” It was obvious to those who knew Jim that he
was connected to the vine, because of the fruit he bore - love, joy, peace,
patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control
(Galatians 5:22-25). To have known Jim,
was to bear witness of the fruit of the spirit.
Although he has
physically left us, we can rejoice over the inheritance we are left with - a
legacy of a fruitful spirit inspired by a beautiful heart wrapped in dignity
and love. The story he told with his
life was a true reflection of Jesus’s commandment to love. With this in mind, we rejoice in knowing that
he is now forever connected to the vine.
And as we remember him, we are reminded to live a life with this
question in mind - “What story do you want to be told?”
James Thurman
Saunders, we celebrate you and give thanks for the fruitful inheritance you
have left us with. What a wonderful
inheritance it is.
Love Always,
Shy
http://lovealwaysshy.blogspot.com/
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