Well.. it has been a while hasn't it. I have been wanting to post again for a while but just never seem to get around to it or seemed to have anything that really inspired me enough to share. However, recently we have had a tragedy in our family. Over Easter Weekend my beautiful and dear sister went to her eternal home.
I am not posting so that you can say, "Oh dear, poor Beth and her family." I am posting to encourage you. You see, I have always known how special my sister was. I would often say of her that she was the best mother I knew. I would often comment that she was one of the sweetest people I knew. And it was all true... you know it must be if a sister says it... for we know the deepest and darkest parts of our sibling! But over the course of the last few days I have heard countless stories of how my sister touched peoples lives. I would like to say that she was just naturally that way but I can't. She was changed.... given a new heart. A heart that loved the Lord more than anything therefore causing that love to spill out to all those around her.
I have heard stories of her giving people a home for a few nights, buying a college student clothes, giving her personal journal to a wife that was going through a struggle that Tonya knew much about, taking meals to a family, cleaning the house of a woman who wasn't able to at the time, taking food to the homeless shelter, letting someone borrow her car, and the list goes on and on. I have been in awe over the last few days of all the lives that my sister has touched. One might say... well Beth if you really knew your sister wouldn't you already know these things about her? I think it is because Tonya truly knew our Lord and Savior that I didn't.
So today I just want to encourage you to live your life for the Lord each day. I have been reminded over the last week that our lives are so fleeting. My sister has inspired me to really live my life for Christ each day, loving and serving others and boasting only of Christ.
Thus, when you give to the needy, sound no trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may be praised by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving may be in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.
Matthew 6:2-4
