Maybe It’s Just Because

Summer always seems to make me think more about Grammie and Papa than other times of the year. 
Maybe it’s because she passed away in May and he in July. Maybe it’s because she was so looking forward to my graduation and missed it by only a couple of weeks. Maybe it’s because the last time I saw him was on Father’s Day. Maybe it’s because the butterflies are out. Maybe it’s because lawns are freshly cut and sprinklers are going. Maybe it’s just because. 

Saturday, I got a great reminder of them in the mail. 

Birthday Card

Annie has been cleaning and clearing out getting ready to pack and move, and she found a birthday card from Grammie (well, it’s signed Grammy, but I’m not sure why) to me. It’s hand-painted by her with scriptures inside and their signed names. It’s addressed to my home address with their return address–all in her unmistakable, shaky handwriting. It’s not the only thing she painted for me, but it’s the only one within my grasp. I have boxes somewhere with all those things, but I’m not sure exactly where.

As tears rolled down my cheeks and I clung to the card, I was overwhelmed with gratitude. They are not in their stuff. They are not bound to their earthly bodies. They are living a life everlasting in the Kingdom of God! For that, I am truly grateful–even though I dearly miss their physical presence.

Do not love this world nor the things it offers you, for when you love the world, you do not have the love of the Father in you. For the world offers only a craving for physical pleasure, a craving for everything we see, and pride in our achievements and possessions. These are not from the Father, but are from this world.
1 John 2:15-17

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