My mother died on 5th November and her funeral was yesterday. It's funny how you have to psych yourself up for these things. On Sunday, I was in such an emotional state that I could not think right. Friends at church gave comfort. One even said "Enjoy the day!"
I couldn't understand that comment. In fact, I really couldn't believe that she had actually said it. She explained that there would be people at the funeral who would provide me with more memories of my mother to treasure. I must confess, I still didn't really understand what she was saying...... until yesterday.
The day was hard. We decided on having the cremation service first, followed by a thanksgiving service at my mother's home church. It was incredible. We, the family, knew that my mother was well respected, but didn't realise how much until we arrived at the crematorium. People were queueing to get in!!! When we had taken our places, there were nearly 100 people still standing at the back!
The thanksgiving service was just the same. The church seated around 120. Nearly 30 people were standing in the main building, with another 50 seated in the overflow, and another 30 or so standing in the foyer! My mum touched so many lives while she was here. I just didn't realise.
Then, I began to understand what had been said to me. In the middle of the tears, I began to learn things about my mother that I didn't know before; her life as a surgical nurse, the number of couples that she touched at the Marriage Encounter weekends that she ran with my dad, acts of kindness that she did for the neighbours who she always looked out for, the church family that she belonged to, parties and fun that she had with cousins and other family members. I was enjoying it - learning about my mum, and adding to my memory bank.
It was hard work, talking to so many people, and I was incredibly tired at the end of the day. But we mourned and cried for my mum as we finally let her go, and we celebrated her life and thank God that she is now with her precious Lord, along with her mother and our little daughter, Jessamy.
A picture came to me soon after she died. Our daughter, Jess, was greeting my mother in heaven saying "Hi Grandma, you're here. Let me show you around".
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Thanks for your comments on my Blog. It must have been hard for you to write them at this time. I followed your links and come to read about your wonderful Mum. "You don't know what you've got till it's gone". It's great that the funeral became such a positove celebration of her life. I still can't help wondering why so often it is the good ones that God takes away.
It was also bittersweet to read of your daughter: the wrench of loss merged with the joy of her promotion to Glory.
A non-christian in your place would consider your life as one marked by tragedy, but we share the knowledge that for us death is a temporary parting and that in the new earth there will be no pancreatic cancer, or any other sadness or tears.
I salute you!
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