The most valuable and beautiful things in this life are not really “things” at all. They are moments, people, feelings, smiles, laughter and memories. At my age I tend to turn my attention to heaven sometimes and life after death. John Wesley was touring the vast estate of a friend. He went from one huge room to another marveling at the expensive furniture and art work as well as the beautiful landscape out each window. He said, “These are the things that make it hard for a man to die.”
There is a direct correlation between how tightly you hold onto something and how hard it will be to let it go. What do we leave behind when we die? The answer is EVERY THING! So death will be more painful and difficult if we are still trying to hold onto the things of this world. Those valuable, beautiful feelings and memories I listed in the first paragraph above are all that we can take with us, because the “things” God has prepared for us in heaven are beyond our wildest imagination.
My wish list for Christmas gets shorter as I get older. Most of the gifts I desire can’t be purchased in a store, gift wrapped and put under my tree. They are the wonderful people God has placed in my life; the warm feelings I’ve experienced; the smiles and laughter I’ve enjoyed; and the 80 years of fond memories.