A Norvell Note for the week of December 14, 2020
Vol. 23 No. 37
Your Life Matters
On the anniversary of my mother’s death – December 8, 1964 – I intentionally set aside time to reflect on what that means.
Fifty-six years ago, today, Mama died.
That means there have been 56 Christmases, 55 birthdays, and 55 Thanksgivings without her.
That means she never saw me play basketball, baseball, run track, or my feeble attempt to play football
She never met any friend, girlfriend, teacher, coach, family, or preacher who helped fill in the void left by her passing.
She never met my wife, my in-laws, my son or my daughter, my daughter-in-law, my son-in-law, or our grandchildren.
She never heard me preach, teach a class, sing a song, read even one of my articles, or receive a copy of my book.
She never visited our home, attended graduations, shared a heartbreak, heard me lament over my failures, or celebrated a victory with me.
We never shared a cup of coffee, talked about our fears, our hopes, our dreams, had a conversation about life, faith, church, religion, politics, spoke about how difficult life can sometimes be, and so many other things.
Yet, there is never a day that her influence on my life is not felt, experienced, or seen. Her short life of forty-four years made a profound and eternal impact on my sister, my two brothers, me, and countless other people.
My Mama’s life mattered. Her life still matters.
As I continued my reflections, I recalled that this verse was the basis for the first official sermon I ever preached: “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.” (John 10:10, NIV)
As I prepared that sermon, I was confident that I had enough notes to preach for at least 45 minutes. At the 11-minute mark, I realized that I had nothing more to say. So, I stopped. Maybe that was the Lord telling me that it’s not the length of the sermon, nor the years of life, that matters, but the quality that matters.
He invites us to live our lives fully and abundantly. That’s how He lived, and His life mattered. That’s how my Mama lived, and her life mattered.
Your life matters. Live it well, and your influence will last far beyond your years on this earth.
Every life matters.
A Norvell Note © Copyright 2020 Tom Norvell All Rights Reserved
ADDENDUM: Let us also remember the 300,000 people who have died this year from the virus. Each life that mattered and they will live on through those who loved them.