Usually I write from the perspective of a pastor, but two events of the last few days have prompted me to write from the perspective of one attending (but not preaching) two funerals.
Friday, I attended the funeral service for Brayden Sikole, whose earthly life did not last outside the womb. Monday, I attended the service for Mrs. Mildred Fisher, who earthy life ended the age of 92.
The services were conducted by two other pastors - one a “new” friend that I met that day (Chad Graves, pastor of Monticello Pauline Baptist Church) and the other by an “old” friend of many years (Robert McDaniel, former pastor of our church and now pastor of Otter Creek First Baptist Church). The two services contrasted two very different stages of life ... a baby's service led by a young pastor and a senior woman's service led by a pastor nearing retirement.
Something I’ve learned through my years both in ministry and in life is that grief is powerful no matter what the age of the person who had died.
I never met little Brayden, but I know his family. His England great grandparents are member of our church. His Monticello family is an active part of their church there. His grandpa Mark wrote and read the following poem at Brayden’s funeral service. With the family’s permission, I share it here with you. It tells you a lot about Brayden and his family.
“Prepared to Do My Part”
"This little boy came into my heart A difficult way with a difficult start.
But I was prepared to do my part. To give him to a family unknown That he may never be alone.
Parents, he will need To help him through this world - But this was not meant to be.
God was ready for him to be In heaven now and not with me.
But I do understand That God has made the perfect plan. Someday I’ll see this little man."
I did know Mrs. Fisher. Several of the ladies of our church would go with me to visit her after she became homebound. We saw her the day before she died. The time before that (a couple of weeks ago), she was well enough to visit with us and we talked about several things. She lived an active life until about the time I moved to England almost seven years ago. I loved to hear her talk about the past, especially her love for high heeled shoes. But, even more than that, I’m glad that she loved to talk about the Lord and the church.
Some would say that funerals are sad occasions. And, yes, they are. But, they can also be comforting occasions when we know that we haven’t really “lost” those who love Jesus ... we’ve just been separated from them for a time. Notice that I wrote “earthly life” at the beginning of this article. Brayden’s life did not end last week. Neither did Mrs. Fisher’s. God protects children and He protects those adults who put their trust in Him. As my mother once wisely told me about living with the death of my middle brother at age thirteen: “You never got over it, but with God’s help you learn to live with it.”
I hope you'll have this comfort when death comes to your family so that God can help you to “learn to live with it.” And I hope that you'll give that comfort to your family when death comes to you ... whether young, middle aged, or elderly.
Mrs. Fisher's funeral service ended with us singing the following words from a familiar hymn:
"When we all get to heaven, what a day of rejoicing that will be.
When we all see Jesus, we'll sing and shout the victory."
When I get to heaven, I will see Brayden Sikole and Mildred Fisher ... two whose earthly lives ended very differently but who heavenly lives have the greatest similarity: the love and protection of God.
This is just the perspective of someone who attended two funerals last week.
Friday, I attended the funeral service for Brayden Sikole, whose earthly life did not last outside the womb. Monday, I attended the service for Mrs. Mildred Fisher, who earthy life ended the age of 92.
The services were conducted by two other pastors - one a “new” friend that I met that day (Chad Graves, pastor of Monticello Pauline Baptist Church) and the other by an “old” friend of many years (Robert McDaniel, former pastor of our church and now pastor of Otter Creek First Baptist Church). The two services contrasted two very different stages of life ... a baby's service led by a young pastor and a senior woman's service led by a pastor nearing retirement.
Something I’ve learned through my years both in ministry and in life is that grief is powerful no matter what the age of the person who had died.
I never met little Brayden, but I know his family. His England great grandparents are member of our church. His Monticello family is an active part of their church there. His grandpa Mark wrote and read the following poem at Brayden’s funeral service. With the family’s permission, I share it here with you. It tells you a lot about Brayden and his family.
“Prepared to Do My Part”
"This little boy came into my heart A difficult way with a difficult start.
But I was prepared to do my part. To give him to a family unknown That he may never be alone.
Parents, he will need To help him through this world - But this was not meant to be.
God was ready for him to be In heaven now and not with me.
But I do understand That God has made the perfect plan. Someday I’ll see this little man."
I did know Mrs. Fisher. Several of the ladies of our church would go with me to visit her after she became homebound. We saw her the day before she died. The time before that (a couple of weeks ago), she was well enough to visit with us and we talked about several things. She lived an active life until about the time I moved to England almost seven years ago. I loved to hear her talk about the past, especially her love for high heeled shoes. But, even more than that, I’m glad that she loved to talk about the Lord and the church.
Some would say that funerals are sad occasions. And, yes, they are. But, they can also be comforting occasions when we know that we haven’t really “lost” those who love Jesus ... we’ve just been separated from them for a time. Notice that I wrote “earthly life” at the beginning of this article. Brayden’s life did not end last week. Neither did Mrs. Fisher’s. God protects children and He protects those adults who put their trust in Him. As my mother once wisely told me about living with the death of my middle brother at age thirteen: “You never got over it, but with God’s help you learn to live with it.”
I hope you'll have this comfort when death comes to your family so that God can help you to “learn to live with it.” And I hope that you'll give that comfort to your family when death comes to you ... whether young, middle aged, or elderly.
Mrs. Fisher's funeral service ended with us singing the following words from a familiar hymn:
"When we all get to heaven, what a day of rejoicing that will be.
When we all see Jesus, we'll sing and shout the victory."
When I get to heaven, I will see Brayden Sikole and Mildred Fisher ... two whose earthly lives ended very differently but who heavenly lives have the greatest similarity: the love and protection of God.
This is just the perspective of someone who attended two funerals last week.
No comments:
Post a Comment