I went to a funeral this past Sunday. I wasn’t planning on it, but at church, several people asked me if I was going to Louise’s son’s funeral. I don’t know Louise’s son. I never met him, but I know Louise. I sing in the church choir with Louise, and I respect Louise, so I went to the funeral without my kids and husband.
I am glad it was just me. It was standing room only. The church was packed, and I felt bad for taking up the one seat that I did. Louise saw me as she walked in, and her eyes lit up a bit, so I was glad for that.
During the service, two things struck me.
The first one was when the preacher read Psalms 23:6, “Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.”
Why do we only recite that verse at funerals?
“Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life.”
We should say that to ourselves every day.
The second thing that struck me is how terribly sad it is to see a man with a gun cry.
Let me explain: One of Louise’s son’s friends was a park ranger. He walked up to the front of the church to speak in full uniform sporting two guns and two walkie talkies. He was fit and bald headed and brimming with testosterone. He spoke with authority; he spoke with sincerity about his friend, and in midsentence, he broke down and started sobbing.
Oddly enough, that was the most difficult part of the ceremony. I swallowed back my own tears as he stood before us sobbing.
I hope up in heaven, Louise’s son was able to see the beauty of this man’s testimony of friendship.
I had to hurry home after the funeral to get to Arden’s softball picnic at which she was given the “Ice in her veins” certificate for not buckling under pressure, and always pulling through.
Bronwyn’s new friend who is a boy (yes, I know) joined us for the picnic and softball game.
Byron and I think a lot of him, and I pray that they form a friendship that lasts a lifetime.
Bronwyn was late meeting her friend because this bright orange moth was on my car. After taking pictures of it, I gently scooped him away. After a few minutes of research (OK, so more like an hour…I get distracted easily) I learned that he is a Spiny Oakworm Moth. I think he is pretty cool looking, and it appears he thinks he has found a friend in the reflection of my car.
We never know in life, do we, who is going to be the friend to stand up and give testimony about us and sob at our funeral, or who is going to reflect joy back to us when we need it most.