John 20:1
Early Sunday morning, while it was
still dark, Mary Magdalene came to the tomb and found that the stone was
rolled aside from the entrance.
The
Living Bible copyright © 1971 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by
permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois
60188. All rights reserved.
Yesterday, a woman from my
church who operates a local “clothes closet” came and picked up all of
my mother’s clothing. This wonderful servant will sort everything and
offer the clothing items to people who have real needs – those who lost
everything in a fire, single mothers, women who have lost their jobs or
have a great need of some sort. The woman said that approximately 70
people visit the “clothes closet” every Monday. For a town with a
population of almost 7200, this is a surprising number to me!
My
mother had a lot of really nice clothes…some still had tags on them.
Even though the closets and dresser drawers are now empty…the items that
filled them will live on and clothe countless women. These items
represent more than just shirts, pants, skirts, pajamas and more…they
signify hope and purpose. Because of a nice outfit, a woman will feel
better about herself. Thanks to a warm coat, someone will not be cold
these next few weeks of winter/early spring. Stylish clothing may be
just what some woman needs to present a good image for a job
interview…and it will give her something decent to wear when she lands
the position!
My mother is gone, but in many ways, she lives
on…in her children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren and other family
members…in her writing…in her students…through the influence she had on
so many…and yes, even because of her clothing. She is still “feeding
the sheep” even now.
As I read today’s scripture passage, I
thought about how the tomb could not contain Jesus. Death could not
stop Him! He is ALIVE! He rose from the tomb, spent 40 days teaching
His disciples and preparing them for the ministry ahead…and then He
ascended into Heaven to sit beside God the Father. But because of the
“seeds” Jesus planted while He was with us, His “sheep” are being
fed…and we are His “agents” and disciples – or we should be!
We
won’t rise from the dead as Jesus did. But we can leave a legacy for
Him. Through our efforts to serve as Christian disciples, the teachings
and influence of Jesus can continue. We can leave gifts of all kinds –
both physical and intangible – that will affect the lives of countless
people for generations to come. Just like Jesus, we can make a point…or
we can make a difference. Which one will you choose?
©2016 Debbie Robus
No comments:
Post a Comment