I didn't cry, or even feel the need to cry, until my tiny son laid that flower upon her casket and said, 'I wuv you, Grandma!'. Then the tears came! My Grandmother is gone from this world and we miss her terribly. But my tears did not last long. How could they? Our group had moved over to a grassy, open area in the cemetery and I was suddenly surrounded by the dancing, playing, laughing and wrestling of Grandma's 33 GREAT grandchildren! Bittersweet has never seemed so applicable; we were sad and joyous at the exact same time.
Conversations of reunited family members started back up; life updates and reminiscing our favorite Grandma Dee stories. It's not that we weren't acutely aware of where we were, of the ground we stood on. But we were equally aware of the fact that Grandma Dee was NOT actually in that box which had just been lowered into the ground. Her body was, of course, but she is very much alive and well and WITH Jesus right now! Celebrating that fact is the reason that her funeral could be a time of beauty.
Seeing Grandma's legacy: her faith, her love, bits and pieces of who she was, reflected in the lives of children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren, was incredible. My Grandma lived well. She trusted Jesus as her Savior and shared the good news of His grace everywhere she went. She was faithful in the little things and this created a ripple effect that will not stop.
So, of course, this has me pondering life and legacy and what will be remembered of me when I am gone. I am all about the grand adventures, you readers know that. But we didn't really talk about any of Grandma's travels this past weekend. In fact, I bet no one even used the word 'epic'! What we did remember was her prayers for each and every one of us, her singing, her laughter, and her scalloped potatoes with ham. We remembered her presence, intentionality, and joy. And I know the words that WERE used about her immediately upon her leaving this life and entering the next were, 'Well done, my good and faithful servant. Welcome home!'
Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Hebrews 12:1-2
