in dying we are born to eternal life

my beautiful, generous grandmother died from liver cancer a few weeks ago.

  

to say the memorial service was lovely is insufficient.  when she realized she was dying, mamaw took the time and energy to write the whole of the service.  in the words of my papaw after the service: she said what she believes.  we sang "it is well with my soul," "morning has broken," "surely the presence of the Lord," and other hymns.  the choir, of which she was a member for some fifty years, sang several anthems as well, including the beautiful, beautiful "offertory" by john ness beck.  i've looked and looked for a good recording of it on the internet but this is the best i can find.  not a good recording but still-- one can't help but be lifted up in hearing it. it makes me weep again--

With what shall I come before the Lord,
and bow myself before God on High?
Shall I come before Him with burnt offerings,
Shall I come before Him with yearling calves?

Will the Lord be pleased with thousands of rams,
with ten thousand rivers of oil?
Shall I give my firstborn for my transgressions,
the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul?

He has shown you, O man; He has shown you what is good.
And what does the Lord require of you
but to do justice and to love kindness,
and to walk humbly with your God?

my grandmother, ginger, as a teen

ginger and kermit on their wedding day. my dad made an appearance less than a year later.

as a young mother (i can't stop staring at this picture-- so beautiful)

surrounded by her daughters, granddaughters, and great-granddaughter

she chose many passages of scripture to be read at the service:  psalm 121, 15, 145, 84, 16, 146, 46.  and much from luke, isaiah, romans, philippians, ephesians, micah, I john...

and lamentations:

but this i call to mind,
and therefore i have hope:


the steadfast love of the Lord never ceases;
his mercies never come to an end;
they are new every morning;
great is your faithfulness.
"the Lord is my portion," says my soul,
"therefore i will hope in him."


the Lord is good to those who wait for him,
to the soul who seeks him.
it is good that one should wait quietly
for the salvation of the Lord.




i know my brothers and sisters and i have had the rare privilege of being very close to all four of our grandparents all our lives.  we all live close together and have been blessed with health and life. this blessing has not been lost on us -- especially with mamaw's death. we loved her and were loved so deeply by her--and we rejoice now in knowing she is without pain or sorrow; she has climbed those starry fields and shouts hallelujah.



p.s. my youngest sister wrote a lovely tribute to mamaw here.