Recently I was reading the Facebook posts of a friend who had been promoted to Heaven.

Some made me smile or laugh.  Some were sad.  Some opinions I didn’t share.  Some I did.  His pictures were a delight.

All together his Facebook posts said much more about his life than his obituary.

I started thinking about all the “footprints” others left behind.

I still re-read the text messages from a friend who is now in Heaven.

I have saved some precious telephone messages from people whose voices I can no longer hear.

When we closed our parents’ homes for the last time, we found so many treasures … pictures, handwritten notes, letters and other things that told the story of their lives.

Jay’s parents had a blackboard in their kitchen.  The last message written on it was “I love you.”  We left it for the new owners.

I have started thinking more about what I will be leaving in this world.  I am a writer, so I have already left plenty of words in various places.  However, they were carefully scripted, hopefully showing me at my best.

I realized there were other things from the past that did not show the best of me.   Old letters or emails of conflict and anger.  “Evidence files” proving how I had been wronged.  

I began to imagine someone else seeing that side of me and incorporating it into my life story.  I realized I needed to not only physically clean out the files, I also needed to forgive and forget.

I am on that journey.  Hopefully one day all that will be left as footprints will be Love, Joy and Peace.

And yes, one day I hope someone will read my posts and be encouraged, uplifted and maybe smile and laugh.

I am reading about your life now and enjoying the footprints you are leaving.

I thank my God every time I remember you. 

In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, being confident of this, that He Who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.

It is right for me to feel this way about all of you, since I have you in my heart.

Philippians 1:3-7

About carolynpriesterjones

Follower of Jesus, Seeker of Truth, Commentator on Life, Light Bearer, Water Carrier, one of God's Creations still under construction

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