Aunt Mary Was Love

We just got home from the funeral of Mark's Aunt Mary.I can't remember the first time I met Aunt Mary, it's as if I've always known her. It's as if she was my own aunt and that's how she would want it.I have been pondering something the pastor said at the graveside service. He said, "When you think of Mary, you think of love. Mary was loved by many because she loved so many." The pastor was exactly right, you can't think of Aunt Mary without thinking of how much she loved you. How do you know Aunt Mary loved you? She told you everytime you talked to her. Aunt Mary talked on the phone to Linda, her sister and my mother-in-law, almost everyday. When Zac was little and Linda babysat him in the mornings, he would get to talk to Aunt Mary when she called and that was the highlight of his day. Aunt Mary knew how important it is to tell your loved ones that you love them as much as possible. It didn't matter that she had to call long distance or that there were other things that needed to be done, talking to her loved ones was top priority for her. I am feeling guilty because I live within miles of all of my family members, yet I can't remember the last time I told them I loved them. And I don't think I have ever called them just to say, "I love you." In memory of Aunt Mary, I will be doing this more often.
She also showed her love for you. She sent birthday cards and congratulations cards for graduations and weddings. I think she baked the best cookies in the world because you could taste the love she put into them. And she always hugged you before parting ways. For Aunt Mary, love became a verb. Her actions were love. She became love. The following is from the Bible, Jesus replied: "'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.' This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it:'Love your neighbor as yourself.'" I would say Aunt Mary fulfilled both of these commandments.
We have been studying Easter in children's church. The commercial world would have us to believe that Easter is about bunnies, chicks and chocolate eggs. I began our first lesson on Easter by asking the kids what they thought Easter was about. The first kid to answer said, "Easter is about love!" I was shocked to find out that a 7 year old knew exactly what Easter was about. I was expecting to hear that Easter is about the cross and Jesus' death. But this kid understood the reason for Jesus' death on the cross. He obviously understood John 3:16, "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life." Jesus was love.
Easter weekend will bring many families and friends together. There will be spcial church services, family dinners, and of course egg hunts. In honor of Aunt Mary, I challenge each of you to express love and show love and be love this Easter. Thank you Aunt Mary for being such a great example of LOVE!