From death into life

An old lady went to a tombstone-cutter’s office to order a stone for her husband’s grave.  After explaining that all she wanted was a small one with no frills, she told him to put the words, “To My Husband” in a suitable place.  When the stone was delivered, she saw, to her horror, this inscription: “To My Husband – In a Suitable Place.”

                Every married couple, at times, jokes about this.  Though the death of a loved one is often joked about, when it happens, it is very tragic.  In the past two weeks, I have had the privilege to share this with 4 different families: and yes you read that correctly, I said privilege.  Death is the one thing in life, which is inevitable.  We may get the car we always wanted, we may not get the job we had hoped for, we may not take the path we dreamed of; but, from the day we are born one this is sure.  We are going to die.  “By the sweat of your face you will earn your food, until you return to the ground, as you were taken from it. For dust you are, and to dust you shall return” (Genesis 3:19).

                The comfort, that we are offered, is that we will all meet again, one day, with the Lord.  (Pending we stick to those 10 simple rules).  After our years of struggles, or tests, trials and tribulations, the Lord calls us, to “Come apart by yourselves, and rest a-while.”  We are welcomed with open arms, after a long journey.  Though death does not always make sense (The child with cancer, that goes before their time, of the young adult, that gets struck by a drunk driver,) they all serve a purpose.  We are granted such little time, on earth.  Though the passing of a friend, or loved one, may not make sense, their purpose has been served; they may have changed someone’s life, or touched them in a certain way, or even given someone else purpose to change someone else’s life.

                We are asked to put service, above ourselves; to leave behind our belongings, and follow our hearts.  For the past two weeks, we have been asked to leave everything behind, and to follow the Lord.  In the end, we cannot take it with us anyway.