The message of your life?

As I sat in the service and watched the video scrolling overhead about the life of Layne Cole, my mind raced with thoughts and questions. Why such an early departure for one in the prime of his life – this young father of 2 small sons, 42 years old who died, after a 7 year battle, of brain cancer? Married only 8 years; children are not supposed to die before their parents. What does God have in mind with all of this? How will He provide for these fatherless young sons? How is it for Erin right now, sitting down there in her pretty green dress- Layne’s favorite color?

As I sat in the service and watched the video scrolling overhead about the life of Layne Cole, my mind raced with thoughts and questions. Why such an early departure for one in the prime of his life – this young father of 2 small sons, 42 years old who died, after a 7 year battle, of brain cancer? Married only 8 years; children are not supposed to die before their parents. What does God have in mind with all of this? How will He provide for these fatherless young sons? How is it for Erin right now, sitting down there in her pretty green dress- Layne’s favorite color?

Hard questions, some of which can only be answered when we enter heaven ourselves. One thing clearly surfaced from the letter of Layne’s life a la’ Paul in 2 Cor 3. As we saw, in picture after picture, he lived his life to the fullest with a passion for God and adventure for life. Even the picture on the front of the program reflected it –Layne with his big smile, in full backpacking gear on the top of a mountain in Colorado, arms outstretched, hands high in the air, waved high. All the way through the cancer ordeal stories were told of his unwavering faith.

While Layne’s life reflected his love of adventure, his long suffering with cancer showcased the power of God –“a treasure in earthen vessel that the surpassing greatness of the power may be of God and not from ourselves, afflicted, but not crushed; perplexed but not despairing…always carrying about in the body the dying of Jesus that the life of Jesus may be manifested.” How else could one and their family endure with grace such a trial except with the power of God.

All six of our grandchildren were seated on either side of me at this service. I wondered what they thought as they watched the pictures interspersed throughout with quotes from many friends. The message of Layne Cole came through. Our 10 year old granddaughter, when I asked her later what she thought of the service, said, “Grami, two things-I want to follow the Lord like he did and have fun!”
In his book, The Gift of Stories, Robert Atkinson states, “Life stories make up the thread that connects the human family. It may well be that we can leave no greater legacy than the story of our life.”
My thoughts continued…what is the life message of my story that people will read?  What in my story will reveal the character of God? What in your story are you most suited to reveal about the character of God? What are the messages of your life?