The people we leave behind

On my way home from a field trip to the mall today, I was stopped by police escort at the intersection to allow a funeral procession to go through. It must have been 100 cars long. As each car passed, I looked at the number of people being escorted through in each vehicle and noticed the look on their faces. It began to hit me how each one of these people's lives are not as they had planned for this day, would they have otherwise been at work or at home caring for the kids or on vacation this week. Whoever had passed touched in some way, big or small the lives of all these people following.

We tend to get caught up in our own life. Often, I think I am just one person, what difference can I possibly make. It's especially hard when you have one of those days you have told your child for the hundreth time not to do something and yet they still do!?

I think we forget how our life touches another. We have family with extended family, neighbors, co-workers, league/church/organization memberships, friends of friends, strangers we meet in the parking lot or the mall, etc. We may not see it but we actually are significant in the lives of others. Most importantly God's. He didn't put you here just to eat, sleep, work and play. You are here for a divine purpose."I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Your works are wonderful, I know that full well. My frame was not hidden from You when I was made in the secret place. When I was woven together in the depths of the earth, Your eyes saw my unformed body. All the days ordained for me were written in Your book before one of them came to be. How precious to me are Your thoughts, O God! How vast is the sum of them!" Psalms 139:14-17 It is His plan for you to love one another!! He wants to prosper and grow you, teaching others about Him. Living not for yourself but through God Almighty to share this love with others. "Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves. Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. Share with God's people who are in need. Practice hospitality. Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn. Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited. Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everybody. If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God's wrath, for it is written: "It is mine to avenge; I will repay," says the Lord. On the contrary: "If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head." Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good." Romans 12:10-21

For the lifetime of fear and hesitation I have lived with as far back as I can remember, I pray for boldness, wisdom, courage and faithfulness to a steadfast, trustworthy, all-knowing, loving God.

I pray that when He calls me Home to Glory, I will have thousands of cars following behind, mourning and yet celebrating how God worked through me to touch their lives, bringing them closer to God in their own life. Today, I wonder how many cars would follow...

"Lord, I am but one. I feel insignificant and yet I present myself to You daily, to use me in a mighty way in Your Kingdom. Not by numbers or with large presence before the crowds, but may every encounter, every relationship I have be guided by You. I am Your clay, small and unformed, be my Potter and mold me, make me into a useful instrument. I ask You to do immeasurably more than I could imagine. Till that day when I stand before You on Your throne...amen."