Prepared for Life

My mother was 95 years old when she died. Two weeks prior to her death, she was signing birthday cards.

But she didn’t select only the few needed for the next two months; she signed cards to be used through the next six months.

Then she posted them. On the outside of each envelope my mother wrote, ‘Better early than never.’ In her own way, my mother was preparing us for her death.

Jesus did the same with his disciples.

In his last months on earth, he told them, ‘When I am lifted up from the earth, I will draw everyone to me’ (John 12:32, CEB).

He was preparing them for his death, but he didn’t stop there.

He also said, ‘You will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth’ (Acts 1:8, NRSV). Jesus was preparing his disciples for his death and for their life!

It is the same for us. Prepared for death, we still mourn our loss. Prepared for life, we become witnesses for Christ. I want to be prepared for both.

Prayer: Dear Father, help us to be willing to live for you even when we walk through the valley of the shadow of death. In Christ’s name we pray. Amen