Wow, these past two weeks have been a whirlwind for our family. We initially went to visit our mom in the hospital, and little did we know she would not be going home. For a week we watched her go downhill quickly and passed away there at the hospital on February 13th. It has had me thinking how fast life can be over. Everyone I have ever been mad at, I am not anymore. Life is to short not to be talking to friends or family that you have been estranged from. I hope everyone can learn to forgive those who have hurt you and make amends with them. Forgiveness is one of the hardest things to do. I have always heard that unforgiveness is like drinking poison and expecting the other person to die. There are people not speaking to me that I have tried to make amends to, but some of these people will not accept my amends. But you know what, that is ok because I still feel free in my heart because I know I am not in bondage from unforgiveness. We go to the phone to call mom and then remember, she is not there anymore. It has broken our hearts losing her, but once again even in her death, she taught us to love well. Her last words were “keep the family together.” What a fantastic statement that was, she wanted her family to stick together and love each other well. I think that should be the first thing we want to do every day we get up, love each other well. This is precisely what Jesus wants us to do. Now that I sit back and read some of her notes from her teaching Sunday School it just touches my heart, making me want to be a better person. I want to start living my life with all the fruits of the spirit just as our mom did. Get up every day and decide to let the fruit of the spirit guide your day! How we live our lives here on earth is what matters, because it is amazing when your gone how people explain what all you did and what kind of person you were, what would people say at your funeral?

Galatians 5:22-23 New Living Translation (NLT)

²² But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, ²³ gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things!

And now I give you a new commandment: love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. (John 13:34)

Do not take revenge on others or continue to hate them, but love your neighbors as you love yourself. I am the Lord. (Leviticus 19:18)

Above everything, love one another earnestly, because love covers over many sins. (1 Peter 4:8)

Be under obligation to no one—the only obligation you have is to love one another. Whoever does this has obeyed the Law. (Romans 13:8)

Love,

Ronnie and Christie