When I spoke at my brother’s funeral, I described gifts he had given me over our lifetime together: gerbils, turtles, a Frankenstein wastebasket. All of these were memorable, but the best gift he had given me was encouragement through many frank discussions of our faith in Jesus.

I had thought we would have a couple more decades to build memories before Jesus called him or me home. I was wrong. It would have broken my heart except for that gift of encouragement: I have absolutely no doubt about my brother’s saving faith in our living Lord. Knowing God keeps his promises, I am certain of seeing my brother again with our Lord at the Resurrection. Faith conversations are the gift that keeps on giving.