Monday, February 16, 2015

Tribute to My Sister


It has been ages since I have posted anything in my blog.  Life seems to have been topsy turvey (sp?) for me the last several years.  Some good and a healthy dose of bad.  Most recently we memorialized my sister.  She was a beautiful woman.  Beautiful in appearance yes, but beautiful in more important ways as well.  She touched so many lives.  People from all over the world traveled to pay their last respects.  As difficult as the day was I was inspired to see the lives that my sister touched. 

What can we do to live our lives so that we can be a positive influence to those around us?  How can we live as my sister did to inspire hope and goodness?  How can we make others feel like they are important, valued, cherished, and loved?

I shared this at her Memorial:

Show family affection to one another with brotherly love. Outdo one another in showing honor. Do not lack diligence; be fervent in spirit; serve the Lord. Rejoice in hope; be patient in affliction; be persistent in prayer. Share with the saints in their needs; pursue hospitality. Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. Rejoice with those who rejoice; weep with those who weep. Be in agreement with one another. Do not be proud; instead, associate with the humble. Do not be wise in your own estimation. Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Try to do what is honorable in everyone’s eyes. If possible, on your part, live at peace with everyone.
Romans 12:10-18 (HCSB)

Elissa lived this way.  The people, that knew her, are her testimony that this truth from the Bible was on living display in her life.  If we want to celebrate Elissa’s life today we can do that by showing family affection to one another, outdoing each other in showing honor, serving the Lord, rejoicing in hope, being patient in trials, persistent in prayer, pursuing hospitality, blessing others regardless of whether they return the blessing, humbling ourselves, refusing to repay evil with evil, but rather pursuing peace with everyone. I hope I can honor her memory living this way.  God Bless You All