Donation To Life
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“Well done, good and faithful servant; you have been faithful over a little, I will set you over much; enter into the joy of your master.” Matthew 25:21
I received an email this past week – “My mom is nearing the end.” And two days later, the email said, “Mom died peacefully this morning. Thank you for your many years of caring about her. This has been a long road. I am happy for her but sad for us.” Oh, the memories that flood my heart and soul of Wilma. She was the Senior Pastor’s wife at the first church I served on staff. I remember first her smile and love and acceptance of everyone. She had a childlike love for life and joy radiated from her soul. I remember the Christmas I spent with her family because of a winter storm that prevented me from traveling to my family. The time she stepped on a bat at an evening worship service to protect all the ladies. I remember her love for Jesus and her family. The disease took her memory but not my memories of her.
Then I saw the Facebook post. Justin had died. The family stated – “Please honor our wishes of not asking questions.” I did not need to know how he died, but I knew how he lived. Justin donated his organs to give life to others through Lifeline of Ohio. I was Justin’s youth minister. He was involved in Sunday School, Youth Group and Work Camp. It was at Work Camp, Justin thrived and donated his heart to the needs of others. He was patient in teaching girls to use a hammer and power tools. He was dependable and always finished the job. He was the first to volunteer and the last to leave a work site.
Wilma and Justin were a part of the same church family at one time. I believe both heard the words, “Well done, good and faithful servant” when they walked into Heaven. Both gave their lives to Jesus. They lived their lives and faith differently, but both made a difference in my life. They donated their life willingly to others and served quietly and humbly.
The sadness and questions come with their deaths. Why so young? Why such a cruel disease? Oh, we could get stuck in these questions, but then we would miss their legacy and impact on our life. We wonder why God would allow such pain and unfairness. Again, no answer. It is changing our focus from how they died to how they lived and how their lives and deaths impacted others.
A friend of Justin’s reminded everyone after his death – “Take the time for family and friends. Appreciate the time you have. Don’t take them for granted that they will always be there.” Life is short and precious. Relationships matter. Focus on people not on possessions, work, and stuff so much. Relationships are the only thing from earth we take to Heaven.
Justin’s death reminded me of three other guys from the same youth group who have died – Jason, Cody, and Andrew. All died too young and tragically. No answer to the why. But I am grateful and humbled to have been their youth minister and to have had a small part of sharing Jesus with them. Wilma loved me and accepted me as I began my ministry and planted seeds of faith and humility in me. Because of her love and encouragement, I grew and allowed God’s Spirit to use me in ministry. This led to sharing Jesus with four young men who received Jesus into their hearts and are now in Heaven with her.
Justin donated his organs to give life to many people, but he also donated his humble spirit especially through work camp and planted seeds of faith and service into the lives of many youth, even those other three young men who are now with him in Heaven. Wilma donated her life to serve others by being a pastor’s wife. She lovingly sacrificed and put the needs of others first.
I have begun to recognize those who are now in Heaven who have donated life, love, and faith to me on this journey of life. Because of their sacrifices, I am further down the road of life and have followed their example of sacrifice and service to others. We are sad when those we love and care for die. We cannot stop death or answer the “why” question, but we can rejoice they have been a part of our lives and learn from their life and follow their example. Donate life in humble service. This is the sacrificial love that Jesus gave to us. He donated his life and made the sacrifice so that we could be forgiven and have life eternally with him.
