Faith that Outlives You

 Several weeks ago, my husband's precious 94-year-old grandmother made her journey home to heaven. For years, she had told us, "I am ready to go meet Jesus. When the time comes, I am ready."   

During her funeral, the pastor asked friends and family members to share their memories of Grandma. Friend after friend stood up to share how much Grandma meant to them and testified of her repeated acts of kindness and generosity. The neighbor Grandma prayed with every day proclaimed how much she missed Grandma already. The volunteer coordinator from the local hospital praised Grandma for her faithful service to babies and their families with nearly 3,000 lovingly crocheted hats donated over the years.  

Her life wasn't big or grand. She lived in a small place, didn't travel much, or have any claim to fame. She'd endured much heartache in her life – widowed with children still at home, survived breast cancer, was widowed again, and then battled leukemia the last decades of her life. Yet her life was marked with joy.  

Her gestures would be considered small in the world's eyes, but in God's economy, they were grand. He multiplied her faithful acts of love for Him and for the people around her. He grew her mustard-seed-sized faithful acts into a forest of faith, as evidenced by the stories her friends shared at her funeral.  

My husband stood up and shared how thankful he was for her heritage, and the gift of faith she lived out for our children – her great-grandchildren. Her faithful life continues to be a testimony and witness to the growing faith of my pre-teen children.  

God will use you as you faithfully follow Him today – in ways you cannot even imagine. In ways that will outlive you. For the seeds of faith you plant today may grow in those around you for decades to come, just like Grandma's testimony is growing in us.

Connect with Amelia on her blog at www.ameliarhodes.com/blog/