It seems an eternal loss. She is gone and yet, life goes on. Not as usual, but as best as we can.Is that it? We live a short time and leave behind a few memorable items and memories.

Sometimes there is a ruckus about who gets the pristine car and the freezer full of years old meat from the VFW meat auctions.

An accord is reached among we survivors, we get the quilts along with some fat quarters and a lot of supplies and long arm sewing machine. We get the freezer and the old meat to boot. Satisfying. Even the big lawn tractor comes with along with the card games. Good stuff.

Stuff, that’s it. But really it is the all important fecundity of her life. Pleasing and joyful in spite of a spouse that did not comprehend her. Laughter, joy given and understood. Gifts of smiles and strength that taught us many things about life and living well. Most lingering is her laugh and her eyes of understanding things we did not. A glimpse when we sat around the kitchen table and played card games. Phase ten was a favorite and she won a lot.

There were always a few Jokes from the chuckling husband about deuces wild. She was a book of knowledge we do not even know we needed until now the book is opened from time to time. Eternally loved by us and the One who made her. She was and is treasure to the Lord.

What did Jesus’ life amount to according to our standards? He lived a short life and never left His country. He had no possessions to leave behind and his clothes were taken by an unknown man. Mostly not understood when he spoke and had only a double handful of faithful friends. Only His mother and her friend came to him as he was being executed by the government. A ‘nobody’ that left behind the greatest treasure to us. That word again, fecundity which means ‘fruit produced.’ Like a tree or garden giving forth fruit and food. A field of grain perhaps. Wisdom passed through generations will do.

The fruit of grandmas laughter and joy was given to us. The fruit of the spirit and the bread of life was given as our inheritance by Jesus. He left us with the joy of a life well lived and a way to live forever with him. A last will and testament for everyone that will read it and understand what it means. Most everyone has a copy of that testament, you can even find one in hotels! It’s a big document and has two parts but both of them clearly state the writer of that document. Every word. Much beauty in that Word (another name for Jesus by the way) he said to “love God with all your strength and spirit and love your neighbor the same way” All of that sums it up.

Quite a deal, the best inheritance of all time. Of course, there are those who sit in their swamps and croak that they are the only ones worthy and fit to get these gifts. That is sad. We have the tendency to contest the will. We get the inheritance if we listen to the spirit of God he left us with and answer back with acquiescent joy. Simple will really, love him and love others as He did us. Mother Teresa said it well: “If you spend one hour a day in contemplative prayer and never do what you know is wrong. You will be alright.” All our brothers and sisters are beloved as we are. Leaving time behind and entering eternity with the father of we prodigals we will know It is better than anyone said.

Eternity, it is calling us away from this short and mostly difficult life to the place of joy. After all, if God made us with souls and the ability to love him before we were born, then we still be His beloved after we die. It’s pretty good, Jack Gator.

With many thanks to Michelle O’Rourke and Henri Nouwen