Verse:
There is nothing better for mortals than to eat and drink, and find enjoyment in their toil. This also, I saw, is from the hand of God;
Thought:
An encounter did not go by without the exchange happening. It did
not matter where we were, what we were doing or if one was coming and the other going. "Can I
have 5 dollars?" The first encounter found me reaching into my pocket to give this lady the money.
Initially, I did not know what to think. Odd definitely came to mind. "It is so I can buy me a
lottery ticket." My hand came out to the pocket empty and the look on my face told a different
story. She got me. This strange encounter introduced me to Ester and just the tip of who she was
and what she was about. You see, Ester was all about faith, it drove her and strengthened her.
Something else brought to energy, and that was humor. Ester died this past week, yet the lesson
taught with her life and her living remain.
Hear the Good News, the way we chose to face life is a reflection of how we face God. Life is an
opportunity. An opportunity for what? Life is an opportunity to share what God has done in your
life, and to do so without ever saying a word. Our life is the biggest asset we have when it comes
to sharing what God has done in our life. The way we face life, it's obstacles and the surprises is
a great reflection of our faith. This, in my humble opinion is what Ester was searching for in
others, she wanted to to know who people were at their depth. She knew what she was doing and how
she would do it, it was as if she had a deeper understanding of something. With her teasing and
her play, she was able to embrace life as the enjoyable gift from God that it is, all the while
knowing an answer to a question no one else knew. The grace of her joy and smile never left, even
as she faced the inevitability of her cancer. It makes me wonder, what did she know? Maybe she
knew "it"
Prayer:
Gracious Father, it is difficult to toil in many of the tasks of life, but I ask not for relief, but for understanding and strength. I believe I do not and will not toil in vain, so I ask that You use me to share Your Good News with others. Allow me to be an inspiration to just one more. Thank You for all You have done and all You will continue to do, for I ask this through Christ, my Lord and Savior. Amen.