As this chapter comes to a close, this will be my last post. I do not know what God has for me in the next chapter, but it will definitely be different without Jasmine’s partnership.
The past five days since Jasmine’s memorial service have given me time to unpack my thoughts and emotions. For nearly two weeks, my every waking moment was consumed with the planning of the service—searching and scanning pictures, food reservations, coordination with the church, enlisting an Ikebana artist, video production, etc. I was driven by what I expressed in the previous post, “She gave her best! She deserves the best!” Undoubtedly, she made a spiritual impact upon many, many lives through personal contact, text messages, emails, Facebook posts, even upon people whom she had never personally met.
From our human perspective, her life was cut short, but in God’s sovereign plan, she lived out His purpose for her life, completely. The impact of her life will continue even though her life on earth has been fulfilled. She showed us all how our time on earth can make an eternal impact when we live a life in absolute surrender to God. The memorial service stirred the hearts of everyone and some have felt challenged to examine their own values, priorities, and investments of time.
I am grateful for the many who traveled this journey with us. It was a rocky road but you prayed, invited others to join you in prayer, and offered words of encouragement. Now that we have reached the end of this journey, everyone is getting on with their lives. It will take my family and me weeks, months, maybe a few years but with your prayers and by God’s grace we will get there.
My prayer for you is that the experience of the past several weeks will not simply fade, but has caused you to ponder how your approach to life might change moving forward. Jesus said, “Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. . . . By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples” (John 15:5b, 8 ESV). That is how Jasmine lived. It was her desire to bear much fruit and encourage others to do the same. Living spiritually fruitful because of the influence of her life would be the ultimate validation just as the Corinthians were to the Apostle Paul,
2 You yourselves are our letter, written on our hearts, known and read by everybody. 3 You show that you are a letter from Christ, the result of our ministry, written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of human hearts. 2 Corinthians 3:2-3 (NIV)
Click this link to view a memory video of Jasmine’s life: https://1drv.ms/v/s!AtzOM-JrmCeJg5E3xvF7MSEqOMl3GQ?e=bX2eBL
Jasmine was a very sweet and kind soul. She was my neighbor for many years and I remember when she became a grandmother how happy she was and showing me her granddaughter. She also helped me get a stray dog a home by contacting people for me. She did not want the dog to go to the pound and worked hard to get her placed. She loved animals and people and I was so glad we were friends.
Morris and family…her memorial service was so special. You did a beautiful job honoring Jasmine. Our prayers continue as you walk a new path.
We shall miss you till we meet again. Your life was complete, you taught me many things spiritual and personal. May you watch over your family and bask in the presence of our Lord . We we’ll always remember and feel your warm and gentle spirit.
If my prayers have helped at all, I credit the fruit to the ministry. A spiritual “Thank you, Jasmine!” You’ll be stuck with my prayers for His peace, strength, and love in the following years for you & your families. ✝️?♀️