I went to a funeral today and it was one of those experiences that will stay with me for the rest of my life. I have been to two such funerals before today and this one made three. Three life changing moments for me, at the foot of three, beautiful, dead, women.
There is a verse in Proverbs that says it is better to go to funerals than parties and as I sat in the back of the church today trying to hide my sniffles, I knew what that scripture meant.
Funeral number one that changed my life was my mothers funeral. She died December 10, 2006. Her funeral was jammed packed with mourners. People loved my mother. They all had great things to say about her. Many were going to miss her. Her death left all of us feeling like life was going to be a little less bright because she was gone. When she passed away I was not saved. I know she must have spent countless nights praying for my salvation. Praying that I would come to know Jesus and allow Him to heal my wounds. But she went to heaven without seeing the answer to her prayers. Her funeral showed me that here on earth, after you die, people are going to have something to say abut you. You can help shape that by what you decide to devote your life to. My moms life was one of sacrificing for her family. She put her family above herself. So much so, that as I think about it now, I can see what a big sacrifice it was. When it was all said and done, her children mourned her and still do. Her siblings mourned her. Her friends mourned her and had only fond memories. Experiencing her death made me begin to ask, what I am doing with my life? If I would die now, what would people be saying about me? Would I have a packed house? That changed my life!
Today I attended the funeral of Doris Robinson. She was a 86 year old woman who was a pillar in the Church I now attend here in 29 Palms. From the moment I saw her, I felt like she was my mother, had she gotten the chance to live to the age of 86. She resembled my mother and just gave me the same feeling I got from my mother. She was just beautiful. She loved the Lord and was a huge asset to our congregation. She was a huge asset to the town! There are many things about this woman that lead me to love her as intensely as I did in the short time I was able to get to know her, but the main thing is, she really showed me what a christian woman looked like. As I think back on my post about how I dress, I now think about Doris and how she always affirmed me in my wardrobe choices. She told me I was a model and her words were like an ointment on a wound in my soul. Coming from where I've come from in my life, for a "Church mother" to call you a model and tell you how beautiful you are and to affirm you as a Godly woman... you can't imagine how much it meant to me.
Today as I saw the packed house for her funeral, I thought. This is what I want too! I want, at the end of my life, there to be some young woman sitting in the back of the church trying to hide her tears as she thinks of how God used me to minister to her. I thought how this woman was such a role model and how I want to be one too.
It is better to be at funerals. It makes you remember how fleeting life is and it helps get yours into the proper perspective.
There is a verse in Proverbs that says it is better to go to funerals than parties and as I sat in the back of the church today trying to hide my sniffles, I knew what that scripture meant.
Funeral number one that changed my life was my mothers funeral. She died December 10, 2006. Her funeral was jammed packed with mourners. People loved my mother. They all had great things to say about her. Many were going to miss her. Her death left all of us feeling like life was going to be a little less bright because she was gone. When she passed away I was not saved. I know she must have spent countless nights praying for my salvation. Praying that I would come to know Jesus and allow Him to heal my wounds. But she went to heaven without seeing the answer to her prayers. Her funeral showed me that here on earth, after you die, people are going to have something to say abut you. You can help shape that by what you decide to devote your life to. My moms life was one of sacrificing for her family. She put her family above herself. So much so, that as I think about it now, I can see what a big sacrifice it was. When it was all said and done, her children mourned her and still do. Her siblings mourned her. Her friends mourned her and had only fond memories. Experiencing her death made me begin to ask, what I am doing with my life? If I would die now, what would people be saying about me? Would I have a packed house? That changed my life!
Today I attended the funeral of Doris Robinson. She was a 86 year old woman who was a pillar in the Church I now attend here in 29 Palms. From the moment I saw her, I felt like she was my mother, had she gotten the chance to live to the age of 86. She resembled my mother and just gave me the same feeling I got from my mother. She was just beautiful. She loved the Lord and was a huge asset to our congregation. She was a huge asset to the town! There are many things about this woman that lead me to love her as intensely as I did in the short time I was able to get to know her, but the main thing is, she really showed me what a christian woman looked like. As I think back on my post about how I dress, I now think about Doris and how she always affirmed me in my wardrobe choices. She told me I was a model and her words were like an ointment on a wound in my soul. Coming from where I've come from in my life, for a "Church mother" to call you a model and tell you how beautiful you are and to affirm you as a Godly woman... you can't imagine how much it meant to me.
Today as I saw the packed house for her funeral, I thought. This is what I want too! I want, at the end of my life, there to be some young woman sitting in the back of the church trying to hide her tears as she thinks of how God used me to minister to her. I thought how this woman was such a role model and how I want to be one too.
It is better to be at funerals. It makes you remember how fleeting life is and it helps get yours into the proper perspective.
I wouldve neeeeever thought about it this way! Great way to look @it! Sometimes, the bible has things in there I (we) just don't understand...but growing (in age AND in Christ) gives great wisdom! U have that wisdom Sunshine! Keep letting God use u, this truly touched me and opened my eyes!
ReplyDeletePraise the Lord! I am very happy you found this post to be enlightening. Thank you so much for reading and commenting.
DeleteThis. Was. Beautiful. What a way to remember how to be an example to others as the elders have been an example to us. Well done my friend :)
ReplyDeleteThank you Candace!
DeleteA Collection of Wise Teachings - A good reputation is better than expensive...Eccl 7
ReplyDeletehttp://tinyurl.com/cjvsbfl from #BibleGateway
I like your perspective.
ReplyDelete