Final Rest

Yesterday, I posted about a new life in the family, people always talk about that. But, what they usually don't talk about to often is their death or passing which is just as important. Yesterday, I attended my 3rd family funeral since the first week of May. When I was younger I would attend a funeral and not think much about it after it was over. But, now I'm starting to see a glimmer of a light at the end of my tunnel and it really gets me to thinking about what are they going to say about me someday. Will they say more about me then just the nice things? Will they know that I usually failed everyday in someway in either my relationship with God, my family, or my friends. That no matter what I did I was never good enough!! That somehow in the mist of all the crazy that we call life did someone see Jesus in me even with all my faults?

 In our small community one of the traditions that takes place at the burial service is they do just that they bury a person. After the pastor has completed his grave side service the funeral staff lowers the casket into the ground and disassembles the equipment that holds the casket in place. After everything is cleared away a member of the funeral home will come and close the lid to the cement vault that holds the casket. Everytime that cement lid goes down no matter how slow they try to lay it, it always makes a resounding thump that says thats it, thats the end, its finished. It gets me everytime!

 Then the men of that family member begin filling the hole with the dirt until it is filled in. When I was first married and saw this tradition I thought it was so different, strange almost, but when you see the love on these men's faces as they lay to rest one of their own you get it. What I love the absolute most about a funeral where the person loved Jesus and was a light in this dark world for Him. Is that the filling of that hole will not be the last time you will see them. That if you have trusted Jesus as your personal Savior the final thump is not the end, but the beginning of living forever with the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. I'm so thankful that I have this hope!! I'm so thankful that all my sins are forgiven because I fail every single day!!! I'm so thankful that I have a Heavenly Father that loves me no matter what and when they lay me to rest I know without a doubt that I will be in heaven with my family members that have have gone on before me but most of all I will be standing in the presence of my heavenly Father. And He will welcome me home.