The Bucket List - Pt 2

I thank my God always when I remember you in my prayers, because I hear of your love and of the faith that you have toward the Lord Jesus and for all the saints, and I pray that the sharing of your faith may become effective for the full knowledge of every good thing that is in us for the sake of Christ. For I have derived much joy and comfort from your love, my brother, because the hearts of the saints have been refreshed through you. (Philemon 4-7 ESV).

I have been fortunate to have some people in my life through the years who were “true friends.” The quote from Eleanor Roosevelt I’ve include in the meme with today’s devotional is so true. The friends in my life have left indelible footprints in my heart. So, it is not a surprise that one of things I am constantly working on is telling everyone who has left such marks in my life that I love them. For some that have been geographically separated from me through the years that means I will look for ways to visit them. However, if that seems to be impossible I will call or write to insure they know of my appreciation and love for their friendship. Obituaries and memorials are a very poor way to express our love for someone. It is such a pity that we wait until someone is dying to tell them how much they mean to us. My commitment is to consistently tell these folks that have loved me so much through the years, who have been such a light in the darkness seeking to overwhelm me at times, how much they are loved. Additionally, I want them to know that I know what they have done out of friendship and love. This is what Paul is doing in our reading today. It is one of his last letters and he does not fail to send his love with it. I wonder what would happen if we made it a point to tell these special people in our lives that we love them and are grateful to the Lord for bringing them into our lives. It shouldn’t be qualified, complicated, or obtuse. Elizabeth Barrett Browning said it with her poetry: How do I love thee? Let me count the ways. I love thee to the depth and breadth and height My soul can reach, when feeling out of sight For the ends of being and ideal grace. I love thee to the level of every day’s Most quiet need, by sun and candle-light. I love thee freely, as men strive for right. I love thee purely, as they turn from praise. I love thee with the passion put to use In my old griefs, and with my childhood’s faith. I love thee with a love I seemed to lose With my lost saints. I love thee with the breath, Smiles, tears, of all my life; and, if God choose, I shall but love thee better after death. How can you say it best? Maybe this one is one of those bucket list things for you.