All that remains

Three young couples came for dinner the other night.

One brought a fun game!

The dish drain was full of air-dried dishes the next morning.

And the sink was full of dirty dishes that soaked all night. 

But coasters, napkin rings, game pieces, and dishes are not all that remain.  They came because of deep bonds forged with Jim when they were teenagers in his youth group, meeting twice a week and going on lots of trips - mission trips, retreats, etc.  And they came because of growing together when they were college students and young adults meeting on Sunday mornings in a house across the road from the church for his Sunday School class (and breakfast by the grandma who lived there!).

And a lot remains!  Some are gung-ho for the Lord; others are struggling along.  The relationship with Jim is strong.  The relationships with each other are deep, perhaps growing into lifelong friendships, as they raise their families in the same town.

As I cleaned up the next morning, the sink full of dirty dishes reminded me that a lot more remains than what we see ~ in so many areas of our lives.  And so we keep walking by faith, not seeing always what remains or what will remain, but trusting that good fruit will indeed remain, by His grace.