Recently a lady from our church passed away. Even though many of us knew she was ill, none of us realized how ill she really was, so her death surprised many of us. She had been attending our church for about two years and fell in love with the people. She would often tell me how loved she felt and usually would get tears in her eyes. I suppose in today's society she would have been considered a "nobody" but thank God, in His eyes, no one is a "nobody". She often commented about our youth group and loved and admired them far more than they realized. She would observe them at church picnics, fellowship meals, and other church gatherings and would comment about them. One thing she especially noticed was their kindness and love for children. They had no idea someone was watching them as they held little children and played with them...but she was watching. When she was in the hospital one time, some of the youth girls went in to visit her and took her some flowers....having no idea what that meant to her. She had no money to speak of but didn't make demands on anyone. Anything she received she treasured as a gift.
As I was sitting on the front bench during her funeral I observed the families with young children and the youth coming through, and I wondered "Is it okay for parents to take their children to funerals?", because sometimes I get the feeling from some people that it is a bad thing and may traumatize children. Or some adults won't attend funerals because it makes them feel weird.
As a pastor's wife I had to overcome my 'feelings' about funerals as I observed and interacted with families grieving over their family members. The person that passed away is very precious to someone and people's support and attendance at funerals means so much to those still alive. In today's world people don't have time to come to funerals anymore....we're too busy.
I was so blessed as I sat at Linda's funeral and watched the children and youth.
This little girl looked and looked into the casket, it was so precious!
And times like this are such perfect opportunities for parents to explain
to their children that death is not a scary thing.
Linda often told me about this youth guy who volunteers at the hospital
and would stop in to visit her whenever he could.
That did more for her than any medications
and him visiting with the grieving mother
meant more than words could say.
Some of the youth girls sang the final song at the funeral
"In Christ Alone"
It was beautiful and if Linda would have been here
I am confident she would have cried through the whole song.
Six of the youth guys and two nephews were pallbearers.
Again, she would have cried if she would have known they
would do this for her.
I was so blessed to see all the friends that came out to Linda's funeral
and even went to the cemetery.
Below is a family that went to visit Linda many times,
looked after some of her needs, and sang for her.
She loved these kids and this is the first time I've seen
young kids help with the burial.
These young boys suddenly seemed like young men.
When the parents told these young men that Linda had passed on,
they didn't seem surprised and immediately said,
"She's in her real home now."
...Is it okay to take children to funerals?
Death is a reality and I think it is a good opportunity
to help them understand death in a healthy way.
In the eyes of society, Linda may have been considered a "nobody"
but in God's eyes, she was SOMEBODY!!
And we are all SOMEBODY to God,
each one of us is SO SPECIAL to Him,
and He loves us!
Nothing can separate us from
His LOVE...
even while we were still sinners,
He died for us!
