We interrupt this story...

Now Samuel died. And all Israel assembled and mourned for him, and they buried him in his house at Ramah.
Then David rose and went down to the wilderness of Paran.
(1 Samuel 25:1 ESV)
Less than a verse.  That's what it takes to describe the death of Samuel, a pivotal player in the history of Israel.  But what a statement it makes.  Everyone mourned.  Israel had asked for a king, and God gave them Saul, in place of Samuel.  Samuel had stepped down; they had Saul.  Saul kept messing up. Now Samuel died.  But something significant had happened. Saul finally had admitted that David should and would be king.  He had confessed the truth of God's plan. Now Samuel could go.  He had left behind a significant contribution to history. He had learned to take his part in the Big Story, so that when he was gone, he was truly missed.  That is what we need to learn: when we find our place in God's story, and step back and don't have to have all the glory, we get our verse, we make our contribution that is an integral part of a beautiful story God is telling.