To set the stage, put me in a pew of strangers, except for the one person I came to support. This morning, at the bequest of my daughter – whom could not make the ceremony, I found myself at the funeral for a woman who could very well be me. I already knew we’d had many commonalities.

The first being that our daughters were and remain friends since childhood.

As avid health activists and authors, we shared similar dreams of helping others with words of inspiration. We both loved our children and Jesus with a passion. But beyond that, I cannot say. I did not know the woman personally. I was intimidated at being introduced because I heard she was on Oprah, and once appeared on the cover of People magazine.

So, perhaps, I never allotted the opportunity. I cannot remember if she ever requested a chance to meet. But today, I found myself wishing we had.

I was not nearly as beautiful as her. Me and my lowly shy, unpublished life, and WordPress blog, would never have compared. Yet, I found myself wondering, that if I had tried, even on the general consensus of BFF daughters… we may have become friends.

Apparently and according to those that spoke at the ceremony, she was friends with everybody. She loved everyone. She was compassionate, empathetic, and had a spiritual presence that effected everyone who knew her.

But fate befell her…

Or divine intervention?

On this day I thank God that I am alive. That my body, nonmatter how many times it has seemed to set itself against me, has always come through for me. I am healed. I am strong and vital and resilient. Only seven years older than her, I’ve been blessed by five grand children, ranging between the ages of nineteen years and less than nineteen weeks. With potentially more on the way.

My point being: Never compare yourself to others.

Each one of us are unique. What we offer the universe does not come down to bank account balance, social stats, current attractiveness quotient, or bust line or chest size. Those that do not see the value in understanding you and your particular perspective need not matter.

I think about the story of the four blind men describing an elephant. Please look it up if you are not familiar. It is a must for any parent or grandparent to impart upon young loved ones. It may well set them up for a successful life blessed by God.

Needless to say, I spent the afternoon contemplating James 4:14, “You do not know what will happen tomorrow. For what is your life? Life is but vapor…”

I am an award winning painter but no Vangough or di’ Vinci. I am a published poet but will never come close to being as talented as Frost or Shakespeare. I am an author but not published by the big five. I am a successful business owner, wife, mother and grandmother but have never been on the cover of People.  

Still… I’m not dead yet.

And today I am left wondering. What does it matter who I am in my life, what I look like, how much I make or spend or leave behind in material inheritance? This, by the way will be literally nothing. (I and Leonardo have more in common than most) All that really matters is the legacy of love, forgiveness, and a compass of what is right or wrong and worthy under the redemption bequeathed by Christ: LOVE. Above all else, LOVE.

Love is the true north. You need not look riches in anything else.

I guess that means being published, a Pulitzer prize for humanitarian efforts, and an installment at the Louvre have spun out in the rinse cycle. And I am Okay with that. I’m no worse for the wear so to speak. Perhaps Jesus put me in as a delicate.