It was with great sadness, last year, that I watched from a distance, a family lose their beloved husband and father. I captured just a bit of what Russell Brown was like when I attended the celebration of his life. Since his promotion to eternity on 25th August 2015, I have peeped through the lens of Facebook and seen the roller coaster ride Russell’s wife Melody and their 3 children have been on. The excruciating pain of such a loss is not easily dulled. Russell may not be living life here, but his legacy will live on.
It was my brother who once said to me that perhaps the significance of our lives lies not in what we achieve here on earth, but rather what comes out in our future generations. That truth has its basis in the words of Jesus,
John 12:24
Very truly I tell you, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds.
Russell passed on to his family the legacy of his deep faith and through it, many seeds will come. Yesterday, Melody posted a letter that Russell wrote to his children after the medical profession had given him no hope of recovery. This powerful note throbs with significance, not just for Rachel, Faith and Levi, but for each one of us. It carries with it truths so important, they apply to all. It’s for this reason that I asked Melody if I could put it on my blog – so you too can be encouraged and these words can produce seeds of faith in your life. Print it out. Put it up where you can see it.
Five things this letter does for me:
- It reminds me of the value of life – embrace every day and appreciate it.
- God is by my side in the hard times – He never moves.
- Death is not my master, but my servant – this is a profound statement and worth memorizing – it takes away the fear of death.
- It reminds me that this life is not all there is. Heaven is ahead.
- God can fill all the gaps of my broken soul.
You can follow Melody Brown at her blog – fivetribe.blogspot.co.za
Live life well today and keep the smile going.
God bless you.
In His Grip,
Helga xx