We spend most of our lives just trying to get by. We work to create a life that sustains with hopes that one day, we will live a time with ease–or to do those things we don’t have time for, while “doing life”. Yet, this is often not the case. In spite of this, along the journey our lives touch other lives and they impact us forever.

Yesterday, I attended the funeral of my friend’s husband. He, in his 58 years, had earned much praise for the person that he was. A man so loved by all who knew him. A talented craftsman, family man. Much love and laughter filled the life that he and my friend created. My heart is breaking for her as she must journey on without the man that she fiercely loved. From this moment on, she will need much support and love.

As I was sitting there, waiting for the proceedings, I looked around at others attending. Some relatives, some friends, some friends of relatives. Each were touched in some way by my friend, her husband, her family. Some were friendships that my friend and I had created from where we work. Each touched in some way. Attending a funeral often causes us to think of our own mortality. Some, for this reason, avoid funerals. For those that remain, it is a final goodbye, a time to honor a life lived or just wanting to be a support to those we care about.

God, in His wisdom, created each one of us, wonderfully. He has a purpose for each of us, the lives we will touch, connecting on this earth. Preparing us for life eternal. He alone, knows the number of days we will remain on this earth. I feel so lucky for all those He has placed in my path. Isn’t that what He created us for? To love Him, show that love to others and let others know how much He loves us and wants all of us to meet our loved ones and those we “brush elbows with” in heaven whenever that time may be.

Death, even though we know that it happens to all of us, don’t want to think about it. I have been thinking about it a bit recently, being that they have updated my daughter-in-laws diagnosis to only four months.We have the illusion that we will have as long as we want. We are not in charge of that. For some, it comes suddenly without a moments notice, for some, they have a long journey of pain and suffering. I do not begin to understand why these things are so, yet I believe there is a purpose for whatever journey we have.

I remember when my grandson was going through chemotherapy, my son wrote about fear. That fear of losing something that you have. I feel that if we have that fear and that heartache of losing someone close to us, that also means that we were lucky enough to have someone in our life of such value that we fear losing that.

My friend had that person of much value in her life that she was lucky enough to spend almost 40 years of marriage with.

May we always keep eternity in mind as we go about our life each day. Remembering, as my mother wrote in her own eulogy, that love is the most important thing.