some thoughts

Mom's passing was to me, like a slow motion winter sunset into a calm vast ocean.
The brightness was gone, fading to a glimmer and as the intensity went down the subtleties of light and dark began to play on the screen that is the sky. as the changes came we had to look for them, appreciate them, cement them in our memories so that when it was dark and cold we would know that we had gotten every bit of that last great light show.

our eyes could not see what was really happening, and that is where faith in God and His word come to repair our poor vision.
we live in the now, and see only what is here, yet we long for and dream of what is there, beyond the horizon of life's span.
God's messengers have brought us a great gift and we will be advised not just to own a copy, but to open it. We need to be sure of who we are in Him, and sure of what we believe. We must test His promises to know that He is still the rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.

Mom's life of faith taught me to respect these abiding principles: Perseverance, peace, patience and praise.

Psalm 34:1 "I will extol the Lord at all times, His praise will always be on my lips."

Perseverance sounds something like this from the apostle Paul:
"Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. "
2 Corinthians 4:16

Patience is not an easy virtue to achieve, but mom was patient with those around her.
Psalm 40: 1 " I waited patiently for the Lord; he turned to me and heard my cry."

Make peace within yourself. Calm the storms of anxiety and doubt by not relying on your own strength or cleverness.
"Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding;
in all your ways acknowledge him and he will make your paths straight." Proverbs 3:5-6