I've been thinking about money
This might be an inappropriate topic to write about right after the weekend we buried our daughter. There's so much more I am reflecting on than this, but, I just have a few things I need to say.
It cost $25,000 to conceive Julia. $5000 to give birth to her. $40,000 to bury her. That doesn't include ambulance and hospital bills, diapers, etc. $70,000 for a year and a half of happiness. Most financial advisors would say that's not a great return for the investment.
I've been thinking about the pigs. Jesus sunk a town's economy by allowing demons to run two thousand pigs off a cliff, all for the life of one very messed up man (Mark 5:1-20).
Mike and I have been in total shock by the incredible generosity from our "village" and from people we don't even know. All the money for the burial was given to us before I even knew how much it would cost. We even have some extra to go on a trip together soon.
Julia's death makes me realize, on one hand, how much money doesn't matter. I would pay a billion dollars and more just to hold her again. No amount of money or happiness can compare to the value of her sweet little life. She's worth everything.
On the other hand, money matters a lot. I think of the widow's few small copper coins that she put into the temple treasury (Mark 12:41-44). Jesus saw her sacrifice and honored her for it. Money matters in this world and giving it up for others is significant. Money won't bring back our daughter but it has blessed us tremendously in this season. It has been such a tangible way that people have offered their sacrifice of love to us. We're beyond grateful.
All this generosity feels like our community's way of saying back to the kingdom of this world that we know what really matters. Generous investments of love to remind us that the life and memory of our sweet girl is invaluable.