Don't Wait for Eulogies

I love to send birthday and anniversary greetings to friends.  As I send each greeting, it gives me a chance to bring back memories of times together and to pray blessings for each one.  It only takes a few minutes of the day, but it keeps friends from years gone by in my heart.

I have a special "birthday book" where I keep a list of all the dates.  I was looking through my August list as we start this new month, and I got a lump in my throat.  So very many of the friends in my book have passed on to be with Jesus.  I know they're in a better place, but I sure do miss them!  Friends, relatives, co-workers - so many are gone.

It reminded me of how important it is to make the most of each day - the most of each time with the people in our lives.  I've lived a wonderful full life!  I don't have a lot of regrets, but I do have a few.  One of them is that in the busyness of our life in ministry, I wish I'd taken more time for fun and being with people.  We did that for sure - but we could have done more.

People are such a precious gift in our lives.  I treasure each friendship, each relationship.  I thank the Lord for the richness of people that He brought into our lives.  I started making a mental list of them, and I had to stop.  It was taking forever. :)  So very many wonderful people.

When Floyd was in the hospital for 5+ years, I heard from sooo many people whose lives we had crossed paths with over our 54 years of married life.  What a treasure that was.  I read each message to Floyd, and talked about memories of times together.  It made me think how we should all do that BEFORE people die - instead of waiting to eulogize them after they're gone.  It was so encouraging.

"Keep encouraging each other and building each other up."  1 Thessalonians 5:11

"Iron sharpens iron.  As one person sharpens another, friends shape each other."  Proverbs 27:17

"Two people are better than one.  They get more work done.  If one falls down, the other helps him up."  Ecclesiastes 4:9-10

"There is a friend who sticks closer than a brother."  Proverbs 18:24

I'm so very grateful for all the people God brought into our lives through the years - even the hard ones!  Each one enriched our lives in special ways.