Not in Vain

 

"Therefore my beloved brethren, be ye steadfast, unmovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as you know that your labor is not in vain in the Lord." - I Corinthians 15:58 

We gathered in the shade of an old oak tree that stood sentinel over the neatly placed markers that signified the lives of ten or twelve souls whose earthly remains were interred beneath its shadows.

We joined hands as we sang together:

“God be with you till we meet again, till we meet at Jesus feet.”

Minnie had labored hard for many years in God’s vineyard. It was time to say goodbye and consign her to that sacred place of memory that occupies such precious real estate in every person’s heart.

Her soul was safe. She had committed that decades before to the care of a redeeming Savior.

Her body, beyond our care, we committed to the earth.

I opened her well-worn Bible to a passage she loved.

“We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet.”

Thoughts of her unsung heroism passed from one person to the next with memories of kind words and deeds, encouraging notes, and humble service. Minnie had achieved neither fame nor fortune in this life. She had written no books, created no fine art, nor founded any great institutions.

She had simply loved those who came across her path and lived a life of quiet devotion to God and others. This was her life’s work; this was her great contribution and even now, it was bearing fruit in the lives of those who would carry forth her legacy from this place.

God loses nothing. God wastes no effort, no labor, and no tears. Not one moment of our lives is misplaced or discarded. We who honored Minnie that day were reminded, by her example, to be steadfast, consistent, and abounding in God’s work.

Her labor in the Lord was not in vain; nor is yours.