Well, just give me the money then

In the End

 

Aunt Mary, who was in her 90s, would call her nephew, David, from time to time asking him to take her to the beauty parlor.  David, who had some health struggles of his own, would always oblige if he possibly could.  He would go and pick her up, take her to the beauty parlor, come back and get her when she was through, and take her home.  Then the playful “battle” would begin.  Aunt Mary wanted to give him some money for gas; David didn’t want it.  “You take it, or I won’t call you anymore,” threatened Aunt Mary.  David responded, “Well, just give me the money then!”  His relationship with her and his desire to help her were more important than the money.

 

When asked what her great-grandmother had meant to her, Madison (Cox) Holland wrote: “My Meme [pronounced meemee] was a big part of the village that raised me.  Because of this, it's hard for me to pinpoint specific memories of her.  She's not a snap shot here and there in my mind.  She's more of a thread, weaved all throughout my child and adulthood.  Her presence in my life was loving, steadfast and everlasting.

 

Our after school routine included Hormel Chili, oyster crackers, Dragon Tales, me playing with her hair dressing equipment and occasionally Chick-Fil-A Ice Dream.  I can't think of these things without thinking of Meme and I can't hear someone pop his/her gum without turning to look for her.

 

I wish that there was something I could say to honor Meme to the same degree that she impacted my life, but there isn't.  I just love her.”

 

These are a few of the wonderful memories that were shared by family and friends of two members of the Creekwood Church of Christ that passed away last week.  David Devitt (1946-2018) and Margaret “MeMe” Montalban (1929-2018) were not physically related, but they were both members of the family of God and they passed from this life within a 24-hour period.  They both left behind family and friends that have been profoundly impacted by their lives.

 

We’ve all been reminded that in the end, it’s relationships that we share with loved ones mean the most to us.

 

And, in the end, there’s one relationship that is the most important of all: our relationship with God.  When one has a relationship with God, there is salvation, hope, and eternal life to come (1 Peter 1:3-4; Romans 6:23).  If there is no relationship with God, then there is sorrow with no hope and destruction (1 Thessalonians 4:13; Matthew 7:13-14).

 

The good news is that God wants to save us and have a relationship with us!  In fact, He has made it possible for us – even though we have sinned – to be reconciled to Him through the blood of Jesus Christ His Son.  Our sins separate us from God (Isaiah 59:1-2), but God gave His Son to die on the cross for our sins (1 Corinthians 15:3-4).  We can be reconciled to God through Jesus when we accept His offer of salvation and eternal life on His terms.

 

God will save and give eternal life to those who place their faith and trust in Jesus (Acts 16:30-31), turn from their sins in repentance (Acts 17:30-31), confess Jesus before men (Romans 10:9-10), and are baptized (immersed) into Christ for the forgiveness of sins (Acts 2:38).  When one is baptized into Christ, he/she is born again into the family of God, the church.  God will continue to cleanse His children from sin as they continue to walk in the light of His Word (1 John 1:7-9).

 

In the end, it’s relationships that matter most.  Treasure them.  Make the most of your time with family and friends.

 

In the end, there’s one relationship that will be the most important of all: our relationship with God.

 

Won’t YOU accept God’s offer of salvation, eternal life, and relationship?

 

-- David A. Sargent