Experiencing the death of loved ones has been the hardest part of life for me. Saying goodbye to people we love is never easy. I have a hard time celebrating someone’s life with joy when there is so much sadness surrounding the loss.
God blessed me with a beautiful experience while we were out last quarter delivering the Summer issue of GO! that gave me added perspective on what “celebration of life” could look like.
We made our regular stop at a church in Port Saint Joe on a Saturday afternoon. Usually, no one is at the church when we come by with a new issue, but on this particular day, there were cars lining the streets and filling the parking lot. And a beautiful hearse was parked along the sidewalk leading to the front door.
We carefully pulled into the parking lot with a plan to leave the magazines at the side door so not to disturb the funeral service happening inside.
When I got out of my vehicle, I was so moved by what I heard. There was loud singing. There was clapping. There was a drum beat and other instruments playing.
In their grief, these people were celebrating. In their morning, they were expressing great joy at their loved one’s soul departing.
Tears welled up in my eyes as I walked to the side door, the music growing louder with every step I took. What is sendoff this loved one was getting! What Joy was being expressed!
I can honestly say that when I have been at a funeral for a loved one, I didn’t feel like celebrating. I didn’t feel joy, I didn’t feel like singing, and I surely didn’t feel like clapping my hands. But I can understand it, and it’s how I would want to leave this earth—with a great big celebration of my family and friends.
When I go, I’m going to see Jesus. I’m going to spend eternity with the One who gave His life for me and for everyone on the planet. I know people who love me will be sad that I’m gone, and that’s to be expected, but I hope they will have joy in their hearts as these folks did. I hope there will be singing. I hope there will be laughter, and I hope there will be a whole lot of love. And I hope what will be said of me is that I pointed them to Jesus and the great love He has for us all.
