A woman’s life was celebrated today. I was unable to attend the service, though it was at a Presbyterian church. I actually had never met her, though I had been in the city she lived several times in the past year. She was 91 and had not been well for a while. Her passing was both sad and joyful. More the latter, for she was a woman of faith and now free of pain. But she already has left a legacy and one than I am happy to benefit from.

She has a granddaughter who is an extraordinary musical talent. This young lady has already been to Italy to perform in an opera there. She is completing a Masters in Music at Memorial University. She has married the love of her life. And she makes beautiful music wherever she goes — if there are angels (and I believe there are), this young lady is the angel on earth of her grandmother, now deceased.

This woman, now departed, has a son who is a Presbyterian minister. In fact he is a very good minister and an even better preacher who also has a great singing voice. He has been a friend for ten years, enjoys fine scotch and good wines; and I listen often on his church’s web-site to his well-crafted and wonderfully presented sermons. He is truly a fine person and a great son. I never met his father, but I did see his picture. His mother, I only heard about; but, judging by how fine the son is, I can safely say that she must have been a wonderful person.

This woman and her pre-deceased husband have left us…but in so doing, they have left us gifts. And maybe that is something we should think about each time we are sad about the passing of a person we know. Look around and see the legacies that they have left us. Chances are we should be most grateful for these people and we should not spend much time crying about their departure. Rather we should be celebrating their lives for the people they brought into the world that continue to make our lives so much better.

Today I am sad for my friend’s loss. But I am not sad for long. He is still here and he will continue to shine forth the light that his mother helped implant within him. And that makes me glad!

g.w.