4 years ago today my husband’s mom passed away. Sometimes I feel like life has just moved on and that no one really notices that she’s gone. I have these thoughts that if (when) I die, my husband will remarry, my kids and grandkids will live their lives and I’ll just be a memory. Be honest, you have those thoughts.

The truth is, when I die, life will continue on. Not just for the whole universe in a grand “I’m not the center of the universe” way. But in a close to home, the people I love and cherish kind of way. They will find new love, find new joy, move on and move past. Does that mean that I don’t matter? Does it mean that Darlene did not matter?

 “…whereas you do not know what will happen tomorrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away.”  James 4:14

Wait, that doesn’t make me feel any better. Now there is confirmation that my life is just a vapor. Hopefully a good vapor, like off a rose. Not a bad one, like off of cow poo.

Let’s try this again.

“Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they?”  Matthew 6:26

Whew. That’s better. Ok, so I am valuable. When Darlene died, she had a family that mourned her. An immediate family, an extended family, a church family. Friends, past co-workers, neighbors all felt the loss of such a thoughtful, caring woman. But she was (is) more valuable to God than to any of those.

“For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s.”  1 Corinthians 6:20

I believe that Darlene’s life was worth every second she was here. Through the good, the bad and the ugly, she was still valuable. She did make a difference.  She knew that she was God’s and she knew she was bought at a price, a high price. So she lived the best life she could and set a wonderful example for those around her.