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
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