Thank You for this Quote, Mary

"The just woman,
though she die early,
shall be at rest,
for the age that is honorable
comes not with the passing of time,
nor can it be in terms of years.

Having become perfect in a short while,
she reached the fullness of a long career;
for her soul was pleasing to the Lord,
And she who pleased God was loved." 
  -The Book of Wisdom

I'm borrowing this quote from my blog-friend, Mary of Landing on My Feet, the mother of Erin. It fits her Erin so well, as it does Katie, and so many lovely, precious ones who have gone ahead of us, too soon for our hearts' and minds' timing.

Gregg, David and I sat at dinner tonight, at a table with four chairs, but there were three of us. I am so grateful for the presence of David, home from college, to make three. Yet I wondered what that empty chair would hold, if she were still with us. What would be their dynamic? Would they be thrilled to be together again? Would his absence have drawn them even closer? Or would she find him annoying? Would she be too young and provincial for him?

No...she never was, even when she was a baby and he a big 2-and-a-third or three-year-old. Even when she shrieked at him to remember to "KNOCK, PLEASE!" on her bedroom door before entering. He was so patient, and she was patient with his bossiness...the older-brother prerogative.

It seems to me, that, "Having become perfect in a short while, she reached the fullness of a long career; for her soul was pleasing to the Lord, And she who pleased God was loved."

Oh, yes, she was loved...and she still is.