When life on earth is over….

Yesterday we heard of two people we know who passed away. One was a young man leaving a wife and four precious kids. He loved God ,people and life. He was a magnet for teens as he was so laid back that people felt comfortable around him. As a youth pastor he joined in with the mud soccer or snow boarding and just was around to hang out with the kids.. He didn’t want a Sunday faith but a faith that wore the ordinary man’s clothes, spoke the ordinary man’s talk and mixed with ordinary people. He wanted to make a difference in his world for Jesus. And he did!

The other was an older woman, the wife of one of our leaders who has retired for some years now. She was a quiet unassuming woman. A woman of faith and kind deeds but not many words. Her health has been failing for many years and lately even her mind was slipping. She now has a healed mind and body in the presence of the Lord she faithfully served for so many years. She too wanted to make a difference in her world for Jesus. And she did!

Was the young man’s life cut short? Did the older woman live longer than she wanted in pain and confusion? I remember a quote from a grieving father who had just buried his 11 year old son. Someone said to him, “Isn’t it a shame that your son’s life was cut short?” “No,” he replied with peace on his face, “ He lived every day God planned for him.”

May I have that perspective as I live out every day God has planned for me!