Have you ever had someone do something for you and you said, “I’ll never be able to repay you for what you’ve done!” I’ve said that so many times over the years, whether it has been people praying, food, gift cards, or just a simple text. But I had one this Christmas that I REALLY will never be able to repay.

I bet you have as many VHS, 8 MM, and VHS-C tapes as I do. When you put them all together, there are about 50! That’s not counting what Jay already transferred of ballgames that he taped of Barry, Terry, and both our boys. Those are on CD and STILL need to be transferred to a hard drive. For Christmas, I desperately wanted to get the remaining media transferred to a hard drive which contains most of Trey and Collin’s early childhood – first Disney trip, trips to the beach, birthdays, Barry’s last Christmas, and much more.

Many do not know that my brother-in-law, Bill Thorne, owned a recording studio at one time. It took a lot for him to part with a lot of his equipment, but he sure didn’t part with the knowledge. So I asked Bill if he could do the transferring for me. I ended up buying portable hard drives off Amazon and Bill transferred all the tapes to the drives for me to give as gifts. As special as it is to me and as hard as Bill worked on it (he’s a perfectionist, if you don’t know him), I understand that Jay, Collin, Terry, and Cecelia will have to be in the “right mood” to watch any of it. Even Donna would not go upstairs when Bill would yell, “Come here Donna, look at this and tell me what trip this was!” She said she couldn’t. Memories are hard, but I am so thankful for them. Watching the boys at Disney for the first time made me laugh out loud because all I could hear in the background was, “Mom, MOM, mom, MOM, mom…” My prayer is that these memories will help Collin remember the relationship (good part) he had with Trey.

On my way home from work this week, I thought about what I could do for Bill to repay him. I really thought there is nothing I can do. I racked my brain. Then it dawned on me and I felt kind of silly not realizing this from the beginning. Christ did the same thing for me. He died on a cross for my sins, which I totally STILL do not deserve, and in turn, I am receiving the best gift of my life – eternal life. This goes back to my Choices blog. I made this choice and have continued to try to live in gratitude for His gift.

Again, as hard as Bill worked, Christ’s sacrifice was so much greater. In both instances, I did NOTHING. I do get bothered by the thought of those I love thinking they can “take care of it tomorrow.” Meaning their salvation. So many do not have a tomorrow.

For 2025, Jay and I (and I pray Collin), will be living each day to its fullest realizing the sacrifice Christ made on the cross for our eternal salvation. No greater gift.

“For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.” Eph. 2:8-9