Last week I went out to pick wild raspberries. Covered from head to toe to protect myself
from thorns I ripped out weeds and began my picking. As I searched for the
darkest and ripest berries to pick, my mind began to wander and my heart became
filled with thoughts of Michelle. Metaphor
after metaphor struck me as I plucked and tried to avoid the thorns.
Although there are innumerable ways to see the beauty of
Michelle symbolically in life and nature, here are my “berry thoughts” of our
dear Michelle.
Wild raspberries are
sweet and fun to find. Michelle’s gentle, loving heart and her fun
and joyful personality is such a treasure.
She is so easy to enjoy!
Wild raspberries
require so little, but give so much.
Michelle’s life is characterized
by sacrificial giving and her diligent, faithful service is a profound piece of
her legacy to us.
Wild raspberries
cling to the vine and produce much fruit.
Michelle abided in Jesus during
her earthly journey and continues to abide in Jesus now (John 15:5). Because of
her life in Jesus, she has produced an abundance of fruit in each of our
lives. Our lives are more fruit-full
because of her love.
Wild raspberries grow
and mature. Michelle opened her heart to Jesus and the Holy Spirit was able to
bring her to maturity. She taught us
lessons in perseverance, patience and prayer. (James 1:4)
Wild raspberries grow
among the thorns. Michelle served and excelled in the midst of
life’s storms. She continued to grow and
reach toward God though life could be prickly. (Galatians 6:9, Hebrews 12:11)
Wild raspberries get picked. Jesus
suffered the thorns to call Michelle to himself during her earthly life when
she accepted his love and forgiveness and He has now picked her and taken her
home. She was beautiful, sweet and ripe with purpose and God saw fit to pluck
her from us. He now enjoys her, and she
Him, for all of eternity.
As
remaining raspberries we must stay in the vine (Jesus) that we might grow into
maturity with Him until the day when we are ripe and ready to be brought home.
