New Year's Day … in heaven.

I crawled on her lap over and over again during my Grandma’s final days. I was only 10, and I didn’t know her that well, but she smelled just like grandma, had the same voice and the same calm peace about her. Like warmth and trust and rest were wrapped around her whole being. Just like my grandma.

Probably because they were sisters.

My aunt Lois held me those days when Grandma passed from this world to the next, and she held a special place in my heart and faith ever since. The same amazing faith, courage, kindness, and glow that my grandma had, Aunt Lois had in even greater measure. I don’t even know exactly how to describe it, other than that her whole being exuded peace. She had this calm sense of trust and joy about her that made you feel, no matter what was going on, that God was absolutely in charge and that we had nothing to fear.

The last time we visited her was almost six years ago. Jeff and I flew to New York, where she lived, and drove upstate to the village of Scotia. And as we pulled up the narrow drive there she stood on her front porch. 90-years-old and standing tall. Skin glowing and figure trim. She was dignity, grace, elegance, peace. We stayed a few days with her, soaking up every word she said. We recounted to her our nightmarish San Jose story, how we were struggling with the direction of our life, how nothing seemed to be going how we thought it should.

And her two-word response has served as a beacon of hope in my life ever since.

“Nothing’s wasted.”

With God, nothing is wasted. Every roundabout. Every seeming detour. Every joy, every sorrow, every struggle, every victory. God uses everything for our good and His glory. For our sanctification and for the Kingdom of God. God is able to make all grace abound to us, can use all things for our good, can redeem every situation for His glory.

Absolutely nothing is wasted. As we walked away from her house, my eyes full of tears because I knew that that was probably the last time I would see her this side of eternity, I knew that God had brought me 3,000 miles to hear those two simple words.

Nothing’s wasted.

He used her voice to etch them into my heart. I still remember the table where she sat, the teacup I was holding, the light coming through the back window and her words washing over me with hope.

Nothing’s wasted.

And so, when the phone rang yesterday morning, I answered and heard my mom’s voice on the other end.

“Aunt Lois …” I knew what she would say. Held my breath. “Last night she stayed up for New Year’s Eve and had all her family over. She celebrated God’s faithfulness with them all, then went to sleep and silently slipped into the arms of Jesus.”

She must have liked to finish things too … maybe that’s where I get it from. *smile*

She celebrated her 96th New Year’s Eve, testifying to the grace of God then settled into her bed and into His arms.

Never was it more true that nothing is wasted than in her life.

She served Jesus faithfully. Loved her family. Smiled constantly. Rested in His grace continually. And lived out her belief that with God, nothing’s wasted.

New Year’s Day. What a perfect day to begin a New Year in Heaven!

I guess this makes my New Year’s Resolutions pretty simple. I want more than anything in the world to simply carry on her baton of authentic faith. To glow at 95 because God is good and there’s always reason to rejoice!

I know she would want us all to know, as we look into 2012, that nothing is wasted with God. He will use all our foibles, mistakes and victories. All our mis-steps and roundabouts and frustrations and detours.

We can rest and trust Him with all our tomorrows. However many we have …

{Thank you for reading and celebrating Aunt Lois’s life with me. Happy New Year!}

“I am reminded or your sincere faith, a faith that dwelt first in your grandmother Lois…” -1 Tim 1:5