Monumental People

Sunday, March 15th, 2026

Bible Verse

Phillippians 1:3

"I thank my God every time I remember you."

Connection

Do you every stop and think about the people in your life who have influenced your life in a meaningful way? It may not be someone who is with you every day. It could be someone who you may not even see that often. Somehow...someway...this person/people have filled your heart with gratitude. Who has impacted your life in a positive way?

I lived in a neighborhood for about 15 years, and year-after-year, I grew closer to these amazing people who surrounded me every day. It's the way they said, "hello" when you were getting the mail. Or the neighbors who let you use their pool anytime you wanted, when they weren't even home. It's the love, the generosity, and the thoughtfulness these neighbors showed my kids and I every day. One neighbor in particular had so much wit and craved to have conversation with other people. The conversations were endless when we were together. Her and her husband were in their 80's, and they often invited the neighbors all over for cocktails, snacks, and then it turned into dinner. We spent so many years over there and enjoyed each other's company each and every time. I would do something so simple for her, because as they got older, they couldn't move around the same. She would always feel like she needed to return the favor by gifting something to me. She was also very strong-willed and didn't like no for an answer.

At that time, God placed these amazing people in my life for a reason. God wanted me to make memories with them. Now, I have lost 3 of those neighbors, but I know they are together in heaven with our Lord. I can reflect now, and think about the conversations, the cocktails, the pizza, the ice cream, and most of all, the treasured moments that made a difference.

I moved out of this neighborhood a few years back. When you have such amazing people in your life for so many years, you know in your heart, that you have to make sure that you never lose touch. I lost one of my neighbors this week. Thankfully, my children and I got to say goodbye, before she took her last breath. While we were there, her son said to me, "A good neighbor is if you stay together, even after you move away." As soon as I heard that our neighbor wasn't doing well, I knew in my heart, we have to say goodbye. 15 years of treasured memories that will stay with me forever.

Devotion

Think about those special people in your life that have made an impact. Have you talked to them in a while? What can you do to show them what a difference they have made in your life? Call them, write them a card and send it to them in the mail, or invite them over. These people were placed in our life, because God placed them there for a reason. Years and years of memories that brought you joy. An unforgettable joy. . .