當我為母親的追思禮拜作準備時，我求上帝賜給我合適的話語來描述母親一生的年日──從出生到死亡之間的歲月。我回想與母親之間那些美好的和不太美好的時光。我讚美上帝，因母親看到耶穌「改變」了我，而接受耶穌成為她的救主。我感謝上帝幫助我們母女一起在信仰上成長，也感謝一些人述說我母親是如何鼓勵他們、為他們祈禱，並且竭盡所能地幫助他們。我的母親雖不完美，但她擁有極具意義的人生──為耶穌而活的美好人生。

沒有一個基督徒是完美的。然而，聖靈可以使我們「行事為人對得起主，凡事蒙祂喜悅」（歌羅西書1章10節）。根據使徒保羅所說，歌羅西教會以信心和愛心而聞名（3-6節）。聖靈賜給他們智慧和領悟力，並賦予他們能力「在一切善事上結果子，漸漸地多知道上帝」（9-10節）。保羅為這些信徒禱告並稱讚他們，他宣告因著耶穌的名，眾信徒「得蒙救贖，罪過得以赦免」（14節）。

當我們順服聖靈的帶領，我們也會漸漸地多知道上帝，愛祂和愛人，傳揚福音，並享受有意義的人生──為耶穌而活的美好人生。

As I prepared for my mom’s celebration of life service, I prayed for the right words to describe her “hyphen years”—the years between her birth and death. I reflected on the good and not-so-good times in our relationship. I praised God for the day my mom accepted Jesus as her Savior after she saw Him “changing” me. I thanked Him for helping us grow in faith together and for the people who shared how my mom encouraged and prayed for them while showering them with kindness. My imperfect mom enjoyed a meaningful hyphen—a life well-lived for Jesus.

Not one believer in Jesus is perfect. However, the Holy Spirit can enable us to “live a life worthy of the Lord and please him in every way” (Colossians 1:10). According to the apostle Paul, the church of Colossae was known for their faith and love (vv. 3-6). The Holy Spirit gave them “wisdom and understanding” and empowered them to “[bear] fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God” (vv. 9-10). As Paul prayed for and praised those believers, he proclaimed the name of Jesus, the one “in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins” (v. 14).

When we surrender to the Holy Spirit, we too can grow in our knowledge of God, love Him and people, spread the gospel, and enjoy a meaningful hyphen—a life well-lived for Jesus.