Never forget what really matters

I am currently in the process of reading a remarkable book by Kara Tippetts, 'The Hardest Peace: Expecting Grace in the Midst of Life's Hard.'  Kara Tippetts, a wife and mother of four children, is facing a battle against cancer.  Yet in the book she reveals a steadfast trust in Jesus, and she testifies to the reality of God's love, even in the darkest of times.  Indeed, her battle with cancer isn't the only trying situation which she and her family have faced over the years.

One dramatic incident was when a raging fire threatened their home and they were given only a few minutes to pack what they could before having to abandon their house to the approaching fire.  She writes:

'I grabbed pictures, journals, childhood memories, and love letters.  It was all that had value to us when we were given minutes to decide what was most important.'

Ironically, they had only just moved into a new home.  As Kara describes how she and her family drove away from their home, she writes,

'Those endless things that filled our giant moving truck suddenly lost their value.  They became things, whereas the people next to me became my treasures.  The contents of the relationships in our car were the things that mattered ... The fire showed me the meaninglessness of stuff in a new way'

It was not long after this episode that Kara was diagnosed with breast cancer, and a long and painful journey began.  I look forward to reading the rest of this inspiring life-story.

One of the things which really hit me as I have been reading the book is how we can so easily fall into the trap of placing far too much value on our possessions, things which, in reality, are not all that important.  As Sue and I continue to pack ready for our impending house move, we are faced with the truth of how much "stuff" we have collected over the years.  When push comes to shove, the truth is that much of it is not of real value or importance.  If we had to manage without it, we could.  

A few days ago a very dear friend of ours lost her own battle with breast cancer.  Another reminder that Kara Tippetts is so right when she states that what really matters is not our possessions but our relationships with the ones we love.  Maybe we all need to refocus at times and adjust our priorities?  Never forget what really matters.