INSPIRASUNS

Yesterday I was meeting with a group of people. We have a new group that is being made available at our church, and a few of us are beta testing it. It allows the facilitators to go through the curriculum and make sure the process flows the way they would like. I volunteered to participate, and in just a short hour and a half, I learned so much, but that is for a different blog.

I was sharing stories about my dad with one of the members of the group. The timing of our group gathering and my talking about my dad, well, it was interesting since today is the anniversary of his journey home to Jesus. I’ve written several little blogs about my dad and his coming to America when he was just 17. I can’t believe it’s been 27 years since I said goodbye to him here in this life. Shew much of that morning still seems like yesterday.

Anyway, the sharing about my dad, it made me smile yesterday. I smiled as I thought about his slight but still noticeable German accent…even in his later years, when he would say “and”, it would come out “undt”. I smiled when I shared the story about his pontoon boat floating off during Hurricane Andrew. Well, I should mention that my dad told the story of being in his home on Marco Island during that nasty hurricane. He made himself a libation and sat watching the waves and wind toss things near his dock. Sure enough, the boat came loose and floated off. That part wasn’t funny, but the way he told the story was 🙂 .

Yes, 27 years later, the memories make me smile. And…the knowing that one day I’ll be with him again to hear new stories of how things have been since he left here, well, that makes me smile even more.

Friends, grief is real. It’s personal. It’s difficult. However, you don’t have to go through it alone. We need time to process the loss we feel, we need time to find our way, we need time to mourn. Even Jesus wept at the grave of His friend Lazarus. Jesus gave His life for us so that there would be no more death, no more sorrow.

In our Book of Common Prayer, the opening sentence of the traditional funeral service says it all.  “I am the resurrection and the life, saith the Lord; he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live; and whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die”. (John 11:25)

I messaged with a friend yesterday who just this past weekend participated in her mother’s Celebration of Life. She shared with me that it was absolutely beautiful. She shared that there were tears, of course; however, just as much laughter. It was lighthearted, heartfelt, and personal. She and her siblings were able to participate in the service, and when it was over, she felt like a weight had been lifted from her heart, and she knew it was exactly what her momma wanted. I do not doubt that it was 🙂 .

Friends, we need to always remember that we are not of this world. We are currently in it, because Father has placed us here. We are given a gift to share His love for us and to share what is to come when Jesus returns. One day, yes, we will be with our Lord, and…with all those who have gone before.

I miss you, Dad, but I’ll smile today at the gift of the memories 🙂 .

1 Corinthians 15:22
For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive.