This last week has been overwhelming. Most of you know that my middle son married. It's probably split on how many knew about the funeral I attended on Friday. Let me just tell you some of the things that have impressed me.
First the funeral. Mary Sample was not a close friend of mine, she was my hero. Mary was someone I've looked up to for over 20 years. She never knew that. This isn't going to be one of those "wish I had told her" although I kinda wish I had. Mary was a leader in the home school movement here in Arkansas. Years ago I contacted her for various reasons, I don't remember, and she helped me. But back then very few people home schooled. She was a rock that I could call. It was that she was there, she didn't mind, she was kind. Seems so simple. Then a few years ago we sent our youngest son to Academy, and there was Mary. She befriended him. He came home at different times and mentioned her. If you have a son this may make more sense, my boys don't speak often. And then at his graduation she spent a lot of time talking to me durning practice and then the day of. I'm not really shy, more afraid of people that I know are more faithful than I am. So that someone spent time with me, treated me as if I had done this as well as they had (NOT), well. It was neat. And then Mary started coming to the church we did. I fell in love with her and her family in a new way. Gary got to spend some time with Stephen, I saw the kids.
Mary was called home. There is no other words for it. I won't do the details, but drawing from my medical background I was touched that God did it so quickly for her. For the family, I can't imagine. But the news spread quickly through the home school and church community.
You won't see the tears as I write this, but they are there just remembering. For this service was like no other I've ever seen. There was no "poor Mary" or even the basic details of her life, it was truly a celebration of life and of who she was and what she loved. I don't know how many people our church holds, I've been told there were 700+ people there, I believe it. The amazing thing was that thirty minutes before the service started after the worship leaders finished practicing the songs, they were just playing, and the people all began to worship. No one said to do this, but they began. The move of the Spirit was so strong. There were waves. Now in the world they would say it was an emotional movement, like at a concert or something of that line. No, it was not. When the ministers came to start, it was almost as if they were late. The whole body was in unison. I really can not describe what was happening. The service was wonderful, Matt had a wonderful word about who Mary was, and it seems I was not the only one that saw Jesus in her, we all did. The service pointed us back to Him. I don't know how the family felt about it, I can't imagine, but for all I've spoken with that were there we are all in agreement, how better a tribute to your life than so many people that come to say good bye turn to Jesus and worship Him. Our grief was comforted, not taken away, but there was real comfort. And we thanked Him for Mary. And we remembered her.
I left that service and went to a bridal luncheon for my soon to be daughter in law. Again, thank you Natalie for understanding my need to be at Mary's service. And so the wedding celebrations began. That night a rehearsal dinner and the next day the wedding. It was wonderful, and no I don't have pictures yet. But Stephen's pastor shared a gospel presentation about why we were there, not for the wedding, but because of Jesus. Then the ceremony began and Bobby basically did it again. Their love was apparent but Jesus was predominate.
As Christians, many times we go through the motions, but our "culture" is special. Both of these are emotional experiences, but they are at the essence of our life. Who we are. What we are about. What is our life without Christ. I have some friends that can't believe that I really think that my children were not sexually active before marriage, they think I am naive, maybe I am, but I also know what they believe. My friends openly laughed at me. I'm okay with that. You see, I'm not the one they are laughing at. I know that Stephen and Natalie have chosen to follow the Lord and that their lives will honor Him. And I know that while I feel so insignificant in the universe, that maybe not to the extent that Mary did, I've touched someone somewhere. The thing that has really touched me though is how these two totally different ceremonies both had the same message. I hope I'm communicating this well, but we are different from the world. We really are. Even when we are with them, we are different.
So many blessings to Stephen and Natalie and thank you Mary. I worshipped Jesus Friday and Saturday in your examples, in your joy and in your example. Thank you God my Father, Jesus my brother and Holy Spirit my helper for all you are doing in the earth and in me.
