The gift of faith is truly a gift that
is “planted” in us by God’s graciousness, nurtured by the Holy Spirit, and
cared for by our actions. We can help
our families and our church community by passing on this gift, by helping our
children, our friends and neighbors, recognize and develop God’s gracious gift
of faith. I remember many of my
ancestors for their actions in passing on the gift of faith. But let me share a little about another gift
that we can pass on.
It has often been said that we are remembered
by how we leave this world. Last month I
had the honor of officiating at the funeral for my wife, Sherry’s, Aunt Beverly
in Ohio. Aunt Beverly was a
planner. She had everything written down! All the family had to do was hand the paper
with her instructions to the funeral director.
They said the funeral planning was so easy, because Aunt Beverly cared
enough to pass on this information in a written document. The family’s final memory of Aunt Beverly is
about the care and concern that she demonstrated for them by planning
ahead.
Are you aware that Christ Lutheran has
a funeral planning guide that can serve as a template for communicating your
desires to your loved ones? We already have
the completed documents for many of our congregation members on file in the church
office. Do we have one for you?
Just as we pass on the gift of faith
to our families, we can pass on this final gift that will surely be
appreciated, and remembered, when our created life in this world comes to an
end. Even as we consider endings, we
take comfort in the fact that by God’s grace, through this marvelous gift of
faith, we know that we are promised a new beginning—life eternal—through Jesus
Christ, our Lord.
