I will jump into it. What you are about to read may sound odd and weird, but I had the honor of attending two funerals during the Christmas break. Funerals are friends and family get-togethers that celebrate a host who doesn't get to participate in the festivities. Funerals are
for those of us who have a little longer time to spend here on this Earth and are a necessary part of the grieving process. Funerals are an event for the living to say our final byes to our loved ones who have moved on from this life. If you know me, you will know who these two celebrations (funerals) were for, but if you don't, I will try my best to describe them without using their names. I will reiterate for the last time for those of you who do not know who Jesus is that these two families are sad, grieving, and miss their loved ones terribly, but I tell you, their funerals were a going-away party. One in which the ones who know Jesus and have a relationship with Him will get to see them again.
The first one my family and I attended was a devoted wife, mother, and grandmother, and I believed that Jesus died to save her. Based on the number of folks I saw at the service, I also believe she loved her family and people in general. This wife and mother did not have an easy life as she was plagued by various physical ailments, but she was faithful. She was strong and believed she would never have a pain-free day on Earth, but she knew her savior was steadfast in his promises. That is the encouragement and blessing that I got from her husband.
The second one that we attended yesterday was really no different. This person was a devoted husband, dad, and grandfather. He loved Jesus and wanted everyone else to know that Jesus loved them. If you had been in attendance with us at his funeral, you would have thought you were at a regular service because funerals are supposed to be sad and somber. Right? This was a celebration, not just for a husband/dad in a "Hope Chest", but more so about a Savior, who is faithful. There were tears and sadness, but family and friends alike would quickly tell you through their tears about the savior that this father and dad loved to talk about so much.
It was an honor for me to be able to attend these funerals, not because I love funerals but because of the blessing I received from these two families. Despite satan wanting to take away their joy through the death of their loved ones, these two families lifted up the name of Christ and celebrated the fact that their loved ones were in their eternal home. As I wrap this post up, I must admit that it was around this same time last year that my family celebrated the life and legacy that my father-in-law left. He, too, was faithful in his service to Jesus and wanted everyone he knew to know about Jesus and how Jesus loved them and gave His life for them. I hope this post makes you think and consider what kind of relationship you have with Jesus. Is it a casual one? Or is it one where Jesus is the solid foundation you stand on every day? I hope it is the latter. If it is a casual one, you may be going through this life alone and could crumble at any moment.
If you don't know who Jesus is or your relationship with Him is just a casual one, consider this word from John 3:16-18
For God So Loved the World
16 “For God so loved the world,[i] that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. 18 Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God.
I hope everyone had an awesome Christmas, celebrating the birth of Jesus and I will talk to you next time.
I heard this song from Toby Mac for this first time after we left these two funerals and it spoke to my heart, so I just wanted to share.
