The Moral of the Story -- Cindy Trane Christeson

‘The general outlook is not that the person has died but that the

person has lived.’

-- William Buchanan.

You learn a lot about what matters in life when you deal with death.

I’ve heard this phrase and others with basically the same meaning several

times lately. One friend with a very ill neighbor shared several of the

conversations they’ve had over the past months.

“We talk, we laugh, and we cry about a lot of things that have

happened to us both over our lives,” my friend said. “But usually, right

before I stand to give her a hug and leave, she somehow manages to bring

the conversation back to God. She makes a point of saying that all the

stuff of life doesn’t matter. She knows she’s going to leave it all

behind someday, and then she reminds me that everybody will at some

point. She says that it’s not the stuff of life that matters, but loving

God and others. That’s all that will last.”

I don’t know my friend’s neighbor, but I agree with her conclusion.

Last week, I talked to one of my neighbors -- a friend named Terri.

She and I also talked about life and death. We also talked about loving

and listening to God. Terri’s father-in-law, Richard, had been sick and

was in a convalescent home for seven weeks.

“Two weeks ago, I felt a little nudge from God to go visit him,” Terri

said. “I had plenty of other things to do, but I decided to go. We had a

nice visit, and then he fell asleep.

“A few minutes later, I noticed his color had changed, and it turned

out that’s when he passed away. It was such a blessing that he wasn’t

alone. I am so thankful that I’d listened and followed God’s nudge

because there are times when I don’t.”

I went to the funeral for Richard. He had previously chosen the name

“Graduation” for the service because he felt like his death would be a

graduation to heaven. I didn’t actually know Richard, but after hearing

the tributes and testimonies, I knew that he was a man who loved God, and

loved his family and friends. It was also clear that he loved telling

others about the love of God.

Each of his three children spoke about some of the many wonderful

qualities and memories of their father. His oldest grandchildren spoke

and sang two songs that were both deeply honoring and inspiring. There

wasn’t a dry eye in the room.

“My dad’s life investment has been standing at the podium today,”

Richard’s son, Jim, said. “We were blessed with his untiring, unending

sacrifice of time and attention. Dad’s decisions were prayerfully made

with the intent to honor God, and he invested in his children so that

they would be his living legacy.”

Richard’s son-in-law, Doug, had us laughing when he spoke of times

that Richard wasn’t politically correct. “But he was always spiritually

correct,” Doug said. “He was always ready and anxious to tell others

about God’s love.”

Those talks and that service challenged me to live a life of loving

God and others. I’m sure there will be times when I am not politically

correct. But I pray that God will help me be spiritually correct.

And you can quote me on that.* CINDY TRANE CHRISTESON is a Newport

Beach resident who speaks frequently to parenting groups. She may be

reached via e-mail at o7 cindy@onthegrow.comf7 or through the mail at

P.O. Box 6140-No. 505, Newport Beach, CA 92658.