A Card from Emily

I saw an envelope yesterday on a desk in our office. It was addressed to me and my family. I didn’t think anything of it until I heard who sent it.

“It’s from Emily,” our administrator said. “What did you want me to do with it?”

Emily died in December 2009. She was the wife of Ebe, who recently retired as our pastor to seniors. I think it turned up as Ebe cleaned his office. It’s been sitting there for at least a couple of years.

I opened the envelope. “You serve the Lord so faithfully,” it said. “Everything you do for the Lord matters, and everything you do for others is an expression of His abundant love.” Then in her writing, “Welcome home, Pastor Darryl and family. We missed you. Lots of love and prayers, Emily Sikakane.”

It’s amazing how often I’ve thought of Emily. It was strange to receive a card from her long after she’s gone. It was also deeply encouraging to receive something like this from someone I miss greatly.

Some people manage to encourage long after they’re gone. We are blessed to have had someone like Emily in our lives.