What a week!

The last several days have been a whirlwind of activity and a roller coaster of emotions. I had an incredible opportunity to help lead a class called Next Steps on Sunday at my church. It was designed to help those new in their faith or those who maybe didn't know how to grow in their faith get started, to take those first steps.

We spent the morning talking about salvation, prayer, the Bible, quiet time and church. We had a small group, but definitely one ready to be brave!


Later that evening, I got a phone call that a dear friend was very close to taking her last steps here on Earth. She had been sick for awhile but chose to privately deal with her illness. Very brave! She would go and meet Jesus less than 24 hours after the phone call.

I am just now realizing the amazing connection of these two events so close together. In the Next Steps class we discussed that to be a Christian is to be Christ-like, to follow Christ's example. It's intentional, purposeful. My dear friend would live her life faithfully serving others, intentional about following Christ. In her own words, she wanted to have a life of purpose, to leave a legacy, be secure and to hear God say, "Well done!" Without a doubt, she did.

As I've reflected on her life and thought about what the last few weeks must have been like, this song kept playing in my head. I will miss your sweet smile this Sunday, but I hope you know you make me want to be brave.