On May 9th, 2021, my grandmother passed away. I am able to experience gratitude among the mourning because of my faith.
As I reflect on her life–and life in general–I find myself recognizing once again, how temporary our bodies truly are.
No matter your beliefs, it should be apparent that humans are so much more than flesh. We have souls. We have passions. We have gifts. We have love.
All of this considered, how sad is it to think of all the souls in this world, wasting energy on trying to alter their temporary body and squeeze into an imperfect societal standard.
Once my grandma passed, her body was simply a shell. It holds features that I hope to resemble. It holds teeth that allowed her to enjoy food with loved ones. It has hair that was so beautiful until the very end. It has her eyes, her smile, her hands that generously offered comforting hugs.
Still, the words spoken at her service will not be about her physical appearance, her figure, her weight, her diet, her exercise habits, or her “will power” around food. Instead, the memories shared will be about her contagious laugh, her sense of humor, her discernment, her constant sacrifice for her family, her generosity, her willingness to share the love of Christ with everyone around her.
Think of the individuals in your life whom you love dearly. Consider the reasons why you love them.
We are so much more than just a body.
Our flesh is temporary, but our souls are eternal. What, then, should we invest our time and energy in?
“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” Matthew 6:19-21
“So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.” 2 Corinthians 4:18
