Teacups in the Jungle

So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom.

Psalm 90:12

Out of curiosity I walked from one gate to the other. I counted each step along a very familiar road through our little village from number 50 on one street to number 8 just up the hill.

264 steps.

My Mum was born in number 50 (lived for a time with her family in number 21) and then when she got married to my Dad they moved into number 8 up the road. After 54 years of marriage and at 80 years of age she passed away at number 8, Roskeen Road on Friday,17th April 2026.

She lived her life out (and traveled the world) between those 264 steps; landmarks of the beginning and the end of a precious life.

In the eyes of the world this probably does not sound like a very interesting, successful, or ambitious life.

Yet cars lined the streets outside the church on the Monday afternoon of her funeral coming from near and far to share with us their stories and memories of the life she lived and how her life had impacted theirs.

One of the most common descriptions I heard about my Mum during the wake was how friendly she was, always smiling, always stopping to chat, never too busy for anybody and full of joy. She was an inviter. Inviting people in to church, into her life, into her home, always inviting others to hear the gospel. She was pleasant, easy going and loved people.

“I wouldn’t have come to known the Lord if it wasn’t for Jennifer.”

“She encouraged me in a time when I was ready to give it all up and look where I am today.”

“Jen always had time for me.”

My Dad and I received cards and messages from all over the country and from the US, Philippines, Saudi Arabia, Germany, Guam, Australia and Brazil to name a few of them.

How does someone who lived such a “small” life in the eyes of the world live such a big, full and beautiful life at the end of it all?

The answer is very simple dear friend, she lived it with Jesus and she enjoyed it greatly.

She didn’t live it to move to a better address. She didn’t live it for the title of a job, or a role within any community. she lived simply as a child of God and how she lived between number 50 and number 8 was what really mattered.

She lived a life of depth and being known within a small community, which is becoming less and less common in our global world. Time and time again, she put others first and was glad to do so.

I know that now as her life on earth is over and she is with the Lord for all eternity she realises more than we could ever imagine just how worthy our Saviour is of every moment, every humbling decision, every step of trust and every praise.

The greatest step she ever took was to trust Jesus as her Saviour and to live her life out in gratitude for her salvation. It’s the greatest step any of us will ever make.

The book of Ecclesiastes 7:2 tells us; “It is better to go to the house of mourning than to go to a house of feasting, for this is the end of all men, and the one living will give it to his heart.”

Why is this so? While parties are a time for fun and living in the moment, a funeral gives time to face our own morality and to take stock of the life we are living. The verse urges us who are living to use the moment of a funeral to evaluate our lives, our loves, our priorities and where needed make changes to align our lives with the values of Scripture that the Lord has given to us.

The values of this world are the norm. They are loud, they are continuous and they will easily become our default, unless we are in the Word, listening to the still small voice of the Lord and prepared to step out of the normal and seek obedience to Him above all. To count the cost, to sometimes look like a fool in the eyes of others as we keep our minds and our hearts set on things above and not on things of this world.

The challenge is that so many decisions and steps we take forward in life are not sinful, we don’t think we are choosing the world and yet the outcome of those “good” decisions are robbing us of the availability we have to the Lord.

As our children get older we are talking a lot at this stage in life about making decisions. One thing I often tell them is that the word opportunity can be a particularly deceiving one. The world loves the word opportunity. It can feel like a free pass on other responsibilities when we hear the phrase; “It was such a good opportunity.”

But friends we need to finish sentences when we use the word opportunity and not let the word lead us blindly along.

What is it a wonderful opportunity for? Here are some usual options that finish sentences where the word opportunity is used.

It is a good opportunity…

To make better money.
To make good contacts.
To get ahead in a career.
To make a name for oneself.
To become more financially stable.
To have more comforts in life.

I’m sure we could all fill in other outcomes that we have come across in our life through our various opportunities.

But each opportunity comes with a cost that must be weighed out in life and also for all eternity.

To take that great opportunity we are usually sacrificing other things, time, energy and family to name a few.

We are so quick to consider and align our lives to the good opportunities the world gives, but friends I want to caution and challenge you to truly consider the opportunities the Word of God offers to you that will bring much glory to your Saviour.

We all live out our values and we need to own that. Take every opportunity you are given as long as the outcome is what you are comfortable with being your value and priority.

The Word of God also offers us many opportunities.

The opportunity for our souls to be saved by Jesus Christ.
The opportunity to grow in our knowledge and love of God.
The opportunity to worship God and enjoy Him forever.
The opportunity of an abundant life.
The opportunity to know God’s will for our lives.
The opportunity of a life of purpose.
The opportunity of a contented life.
The opportunity of a surrendered life.
The opportunity to face trails with hope and even joy.
The opportunity to share the gospel and love of God with others.
The opportunity to be part of the Body of Christ and use the gifts He has given to us to build up others.
The opportunity to pray to the God of all creation and know He is listening to us and answering according to His perfect will.

As my Dad and I stood by my Mum’s coffin in our little house at 8, Roskeen Road, before the lid was closed and then brought to the church for the funeral, we stood together and took in the significance of the moment in both gratitude and grief.

My Dad put his arm around my shoulder, bowed his head and led us in prayer to our Heavenly Father thanking Him for our life as a family and for His faithfulness through all the seasons. A prayer of gratitude and surrender to the way and the will of the Lord, then, now and every day in between. It was in death as we had lived together in life.

When he finished praying he looked at me, nodded and said, “No regrets, Philippa. No regrets.”

Success, ambition, wealth or fame where not even part of our thinking, or cares in that moment when death is of utmost reality.

Peace with God is everything. The life we have lived with Jesus is all that matters. Just to be clear I don’t mean all the “doing” we have done for Him, no I mean all the living we have done WITH Him. The whispered thanks, the daily dependence, the choosing of where to place our thoughts, the time together in His Word, the honouring Him with our words behind closed doors are often the unseen moments of our lives, but are also the moments that are actually building our lives for all eternity. Our love for Him permeates every part of our lives.

When death arrives nothing can be changed. Decisions cannot be undone. There will be no more opportunities to make the changes that matter, or to re-prioritise our days.

It is final.

Watching my Mum’s coffin be lowered into the ground was a sombre moment. For us an ending, but for her a beautiful beginning. Pleasure forevermore.

She lived her life faithfully. She took the right opportunities in many unseen moments within those 264 steps and 80 years.

A faithful life in the Kingdom of God is no small thing, it is everything.

While the world will offer us many opportunities and many of them are good, not bad things, the Lord offers us the best which is His will worked out in our obedience to His Word and through our love for Him.

These past two months I have been doing my own reflecting on the life I am living. The daily routines, habits and decisions that are the pillars of my values lived out each day. Are they in line with living a life that is whole heartedly loving the Lord? As missionaries living a life in full time ministry we are also presented with many good opportunities that need to be weighed out in light of what would God have us to do. Not being carried along on pleasing others and because we “should” do something, but walking forward in confidence that we are responding in obedience to the Lord’s will and plan for our lives and ministry. It is not a one time decision to serve the Lord, but a daily walk with Him in surrender to His will for our lives. Wood, hay and stubble can show up in the lives of missionaries, too. We must all guard our hearts.

If my life were to end tomorrow what part of my life would I wish I had not wasted so much time in?

When I see my Saviour face to face the old hymn says: “I’ll wish I had given Him more.”

What is my more today?

More time thinking on His goodness, than on my wasted worry.

More time being grateful for my salvation.

More time loving my family, less time being critical.

More time trusting Him.

More time telling others about Him.

More time worshipping and less time complaining.

More time enjoying Him and less time being busy.

Teacups in the Jungle

Life stories from a missionary mama

Thoughts About Life from a Graveside.

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