A Mortality Reminder

# 121 – Today's Du-votional comes from 1Sa 10:2 "When you have departed from me today, you will find two men by Rachel's tomb in the territory of Benjamin at Zelzah; and they will say to you, 'The donkeys which you went to look for have been found. And now your father has ceased caring about the donkeys and is worrying about you, saying, "What shall I do about my son?"' (1 Sam 10:2) I'm not into visiting graves, how about you? My parents, on the other hand visited the graves of their family members often. Their fascination with, and concern over a proper resting place for family members has always intrigued me. Some of this concern was likely linked to the fact that they miss their loved ones, and visiting the grave allows for a time of reflection of the times spent with them on earth. This can be very therapeutic. I guess I've always been content with knowing that they are no longer in the grave, they are but ashes and dust, and their souls have already moved on to their final destination. Heb 9:27 And as it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment, But, upon further review, I believe I have overlooked something about the value of visiting a grave site, and in this reading from Samuel, we see that the very first sign that Saul would find on his little scavenger hunt would be given to him at Rachael's tomb. Saul, a Benjamite, must go to the grave of the mother of Benjamin before he takes on the responsibility of ruling. This visit should remind him of his God-blessed roots, and also serve as a reminder of his own mortality. Of course God provides us with many other reminders of our mortality in nature and in everyday occurrences, but it really hits home at the grave of an ancestor or at the tomb of someone whom we loved and interacted with on a personal level. A proper understanding of our own mortality can prepare us for that time when God will call us home, and help us to redeem our own days wisely.