What Remains

Some people enter our lives for a lifetime. Others for a season.

Last Christmas, a young lady unexpectedly gave me this mug. It was such a thoughtful gift. I wasn't expecting anything, yet somehow this simple mug has become one of my favorites. Almost every morning, I make my coffee in it. It made me think about another mug.

Years ago, my friend Eliza gave me one. After she passed away, I found myself reaching for it often. It wasn't just a mug anymore. It was a connection. A reminder that someone I loved had been part of my life. That's when I realized something. We never know how long someone will be part of our story. But we do have the opportunity to leave people with kindness they carry long after we're gone—or long after our paths have changed.

Maybe that's why thoughtful gifts matter so much. They quietly become reminders of people who touched our lives.

To the young lady who gave me this mug: thank you. Whether you're part of our story for a season or for years to come, your kindness mattered. And every time I reach for my morning coffee, I'll think of it.