Matters of Life & Death—Part II

Yesterday I wrote about my mom’s recent passing. I really appreciate those of you who reached out via email and social media to express condolences or to say the post about her touched you. I learned a lot from that week’s experience, so here’s a little more…

I took note that, when I asked for people at the graveside to share anything about my mom, or with those who came up to me afterwards to share, people said nothing about …

… what kind of car she drove.

… how big her house was, where it was, or the neighborhood she lived in.

… what she did for a living.

… her wardrobe.

… her bank account.

… her business dealings.

… where she had traveled or how much.

… anything she owned or left behind.

What people did share was …

… how her life had touched theirs.

… how she had treated them as people.

… what she had done for them.

… what her life had meant to them.

Do you see it? At the gravesite …

… material things isn’t what anyone remembered; it was the person.

… material things didn’t matter to anyone; it was the person.

… material things weren’t considered by anyone; only how the person touched their lives.

How should that affect what we go after today?

How should that affect what we pay attention to?

What should truly matter to us right now while we still have breath?

When I was hungry, you gave me something to eat, and when I was thirsty, you gave me something to drink. When I was a stranger, you welcomed me, and when I was naked, you gave me clothes to wear. When I was sick, you took care of me, and when I was in jail, you visited me.” —Jesus in Matthew 25:35-36 CEV