I go to a women's bible study group once a week at my church.  It's quite fabulous, they supply child care!  For free!  Child care!!  Which means, of course, that I get to socialize with other adults.  For two hours.  Without telling someone to take their finger out of their nose, or without hearing, "I need to go poo, Momma!!"  It's bliss, I tell ya, bliss.

Anyway, the kids also get a little lesson on these mornings.  It's like Sunday school on Tuesdays.  I always ask them what they learned on the way home...

This past Tuesday...

Me:  So guys, what did you learn today?

Keyzia:  Well, Momma, we learned how Jesus died on the cross for us.

Me:  You did?  Wow.

Keyzia:  Yup.  He died so that we can go to heaven!

Me:  You're right!  He did!  Isn't that wonderful??

Keyzia:  And because we believe in Jesus, we get to go to heaven!  But some people don't believe in Jesus.  And they don't get to go to heaven.  That's sad.

Me:  That's true, it is very sad.

((and here's where she got me))

Keyzia:  But, I already knew all that, Momma, cuz YOU taught me.

And isn't that all there is to it?  In a nutshell?  When we take away all the doctrinal arguing, Christianity is about whether or not you believe and accept Jesus into your heart.  Those who believe in Him, go to heaven, those who don't?  Don't.

It's interesting how the death of a family member makes you think about your own mortality.  About how we were simply intended for a short stay here on earth.  How we were made for eternity.

This week my great aunt's son died.  He was found in his condo, just leaning against the wall.  He was 42.  They don't know why he died, they don't know how.  The funeral is today.

Now, I am sad that he died, and yet at the same time, I didn't know him.  We have been very close with my Great Aunt, she is like a Grandmother to me, and I think I feel more sad for her.  She's had a rough go over the past couple of years.  Losing a husband and brother to cancer, and now her son.

It's terrible, too, that we haven't been around more for her.  I could give you all kinds of excuses as to why we haven't, time, etc, etc.  And they don't really matter.  We should be there more, and we haven't.  We are going to try and remedy that in the near future.

I don't feel like I'm afraid to die.  I know where I'm going.  I'm sure of my salvation, of the fact that when I die, I will be partying it up in heaven.  I am afraid for who I would leave behind, and yet I know that my God is eternal, and that He will look after those left here on earth.

I hate funerals, who doesn't?  And yet we will go, pay our respects, and hug my Aunt Joyce, letting her know that we are here.