My (great) Aunt died suddenly a number of weeks ago, there is much i didn't see, i knew her well, i knew her to be a lovely lady, friendly to all, full of life and conversation, and of encouragement, who loved the church. And yet i didn't see the gift she was to know fully, most of all i didn't see how much i could have learned from her, of how to walk with and live for Christ daily.
Autumn! Autumn has got to be my favourite season. A time for giving thanks for what we have just as harvest ends. A time to see the colours of the leaves change and to wrap up warm and go for walks making paths through the leaves to hear them crunch (provided of course it's not too wet).
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| Autumn. Harvest. Thanks. |
I drove back to Belfast from her funeral that Friday sad a life had ended but thankful for her life, and for her faith in the One who saves and forgives us for all our unrighteousness. My prayer to God as I drove reflected that, but also the question- why didn't I learn more from how she lived while she lived. I drove slowly, eyes wide open wanting to see all the beauty of the autumn leaves before the country landscape disappeared. Yes, I really do love the Autumn leaves. They are beautiful, but dying. To us they appear to change colour, when in fact those pigments have been there hidden by the green chlorophyll. Other things hid the lessons to learn from people, and from God. Whether it was my ignorance, business, selfishness...or sin. Only God can help us to see what is true. God shows us His holiness in His Word, and in His son, a human example, so we can be holy as He is. My Aunt was sinful but she knew her Saviour, she was molded by Him. Not perfect, but being changed. She has now gone to be with Him.
But He used her death to teach me these lessons-
- Live life simply, by the greatest command; Love God and love others
- To pray, encourage church leaders regularly
- To be faithful
