Rainy Day

This has been one rainy day, which is very appropriate for what I'm working on today. Sunday, My mom told us that my great-aunt Erma had passed away; or as my Mom put it, "she's with Jesus." When I was growing up she and my great-aunt Jean showed a lot of love to my parents and all of us kids.
Aunt Erma and Aunt Jean (as we called them) were ministry and business partners.  They started as missionaries and transitioned into church re-planters. Finally, they began a Christian bookstore, but in 1967 they became family. In my parents marriage, the Hague (Zirkle) and Augsburger clans unified. All of us great-nephews and a great-niece were cared for with all the love that Aunt Jean and Aunt Erma could give. It was generous and priceless all at once.
I have so many good memories of Aunt Erma that I feel I am hardly doing her justice by participating in her funeral, Saturday. Even so I will honor her as best I know. I was told that when they were church planting she would hold the binding of her bible in both hands as she spoke about the words of God. So Saturday I will stand and deliver  a meditation on the words of God. Holding the God's words about life after death dear because I know that Aunt Erma does. She would've wanted to be challenged to trust Jesus and give him glory in this sad time, and that will be my message.
So let it rain. Even as it seems sad and dark this fall day we know that God is merciful to the just and the unjust. He lets the rain fall on all. His mercy comes to both his children and those who have yet to become his children.