"Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; a man's life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions." ~Jesus
At the death of friends, I've seen families torn apart by something as silly as a doll or a cookie jar. When they should be honoring their loved one and comforting each other, they're busy grabbing everything they can and rushing out the door. Backstabbing for that ring Mom promised and even a sugar packet left in her drawer. Grief used as a mask for greed. Heartbreaking.
At the nursing home once, there was a table in the main room that had a neat collection of sweatshirts, odds and ends, and a crystal vase. Our little band was told to take whatever we wanted. As I perused the items, I began to imagine what these meager possessions had meant to the deceased. Was the crystal vase an anniversary gift? Were the birds embroidered on the shirts lovingly designed and made for or by her? Personality just oozed out of the items.
It was sad in a way that none of the family valued any of these treasures enough to come get them but it made me think that this woman must've died happy! I'll bet she passed along all the things that were important to her before she settled in her one room of family photos and a single crystal vase. She got to relish the look on her loved ones faces as they received their inheritance from her hand and enjoy a hug from the recipient in a goodbye.
"From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked." ~Jesus
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