I WILL REMEMBER YOU

Here is the bare bones truth about this season in life, I am losing a LOT of loved ones.  You cannot live this long and not realize we do not get out of this alive.  The question becomes when will the bell toll? (AND NO I still do not want the date)   A dear friend (who is long gone) taught the "Old ladies Sunday school class) in a church I belonged to LONG AGO.  In a conversation about her ministry with these sweet ladies she told me, "Honey, they are all one step from the grave."  At first I was taken back--but then I realized there was  truth in that statement.  I would imagine most of these dear saints were in their 80's.  As we like to say, "Living on borrowed time."  Someone recently told me their social outings these days were funerals.  When that becomes the case---you have reached the point of a shrinking world.

My question becomes  ~  "What do we do with the void created by our loss and as that void becomes larger and larger what should our response be?"  My personal theory---we honor those we love when they are gone by purposefully remembering.  As long as we speak their name we have not forgotten and we are honoring the impact they had on our lives.   Depending upon the length of time we knew them and the time we spent with them--there will be varying degrees of grief.  When I sit and ponder, I often remember all those from varying relationships and points of contact over the years who are now gone.  Often I reminisce over the stories I shared with those who are no longer with us.  As long as I remember that story---think upon it---perhaps retell it---their memory is alive and well.  What we shared together---will forever live as long as I am here.  NOW---here is the point I want you to ponder.  Once I am gone---and there is no one left who knows that story---is that memory gone with me?  It is the age of question of if a tree falls in the forest and no one is there to hear it--does it make a sound?    When one suffers from dementia are the memories gone or are we just no longer able to access them?   We do not know--but perhaps those memories go with us to heaven.  NOW---it is my thought that when we are in the presence of a Holy God and His Son---all things of this earth will no longer matter.  BUT I do not know the mind of God---and perhaps our stories travel with us when we enter the Pearly Gates.  Deep Thinking as I write this---deep thinking.

"And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying,

 'LOOK! God's dwelling place is now among the people,

 and He will dwell with them.  

They will be His people ,

and God Himself will be with them

and be their God."

Revelation 21:3