Stay in God's Grip!
  • Home
  • Todd's Blog
  • Remember Me When
  • Contact

 While in God's Grip!

Among the Saints...

11/1/2018

0 Comments

 
Picture
Picture
"Has not God chosen those who are poor in the eyes of the world to be rich in faith and to inherit the kingdom he promised those who love him?"
~ James 2:5


My morning began with a call that one of my patients had passed into eternity. Over the last few months I had watched as she slowly faded into our memories, and her journey came to a close. As I gathered with her family and offered a prayer of thanksgiving for her life, and for offering her journey to be part of ours, I recalled to mind that today is All Saints Day.

There is something about this day that reminds me that we are all part of something more. What exactly makes any of us a saint?

Each year on this day, I find that I am focused on the memories of those who have died, who loved me unconditionally, and who now have entrusted me with their stories to tell.

As I listened to my patient's daughter share that she now feels a "great responsibility" as she now becomes the elder among her family, we shared how important this role will now be.

Last year as my family gathered together for a wedding, several of my cousins asked me what our great grandmother was "really like?" Their memories of our great grandmother are quite different than mine. I'm next to the oldest among my generation, having had years with my great grandmother, and having had the opportunity to know her prior to the changes that age and dementia had caused.

I talked of humor, joined with an amazing faith, and love for people, and how sad it was to see her change into someone else.

All Saints Day is about our spirit. It is the reminder that even in death, we continue to remain among the great cloud of witnesses.

Among the saints in my life are my great grandmother, grandparents, one parent, and a number of friends that have influenced and changed my life.

I love old photographs, including those that show my grandparents in front of the church that my grandfather pastored for many years.


My dad, just a child, along with his brothers. All of these men, now in the golden years of life, remember these photos and the people they knew.

To me, these photos are captured moments in time, that give insight into what a saint actually is. Somewhere between the photo and a life encounter, saints are sinners that seem to have found faith.


Perhaps a saint was born because they loved others and lived their life helping to make the lives of others better.

As I hugged family members of my patient this morning as we said our good-byes, I could sense the kingdom of God surrounding us, filled with saints and the newest member to that great cloud.

I am reminded of the spark of the Divine that continues to exist, even after the ashes of the creation have returned to the earth.

It is days and moments like these that cause me to think of how I would like to be remembered. I'm not so sure that I would consider myself a saint, but I do hope that the life that I live, and those that I know, will ultimately make a difference in the lives of others. To me, that is ultimately what a saint is and does.

I am thankful for all of those people who have influenced my life, and for the family today that shared their saint with me.

Today is the realization that the Kingdom of God is at hand, and it is filled with saints.

Stay in God's grip!

G. Todd Williams, (c) 2018

0 Comments



Leave a Reply.

    Author

    Rev. G. Todd Williams lives in the Houston metro area and is a Hospice Chaplain at Essential Hospice, Webster, Texas, and is an ordained Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) pastor.

    He serves as the Stated Supply to Westminster Presbyterian Church, Galveston, Texas.

    His new book, "Remember Me When..." is available through Chalice Press.

    Archives

    August 2022
    June 2022
    May 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    December 2021
    July 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017

    RSS Feed

  • Home
  • Todd's Blog
  • Remember Me When
  • Contact