Ash Wednesday

In the car today, my 7 year old announced that she wished there was a cure for everything. The nine year old agreed and added that people need to work harder to find cures.... and if they would have worked harder for Aunt Eileen, then she wouldn't have died. I let the conversation between them go on for a minute or two before saying that every one worked as hard as they could to try to cure Aunt Eileen, it was just her turn to go to heaven. Her death, and everyone's death, is all part of His plan, and you could be here for 2 years, 28 years, 88, or anywhere in between, but when God calls you home to heaven, its time to go. The 9 year old added that you don't even have to be two, you could go to heaven before you're even born (referring to a friend's miscarriage). Put that way, it seems so simple, I need to think that way more often. I guess it helped that we were on our way to Ash Wednesday service, that moment of grace was quickly replaced when I had to sit in the front row with 5 1st graders who, despite their best efforts, couldn't keep from fidgeting. Then again, as I put the 7 year old to bed, she said " I smiled when they put ashes on my forehead, because I knew that God was happy with me." Thats what I'll think of tonight as I go to sleep.