The Funeral

I keep replaying my moms funeral in my head. There are so many beautiful moments that I never want to forget.

I didn't know how I would respond to seeing Jeff, my mom's husband. All I felt was peace and forgiveness. I hugged him and told him I knew my mom loved him. All I saw before me was a broken man living a broken life. And now he has to live it alone. My heart and my prayers go out to him.

My Uncle Jerry opened the service by playing the piano. Music is his blood. He hasn't touched a piano in years. With his oxygen tank by his side he played for his sister. He played Amazing Grace and I'll Fly Away, singing as much as his lungs would allow. The love of a sibling is a powerful thing.

He shared a story of his days in the band. My mom wanted to sing with them. "But Cheryl, you can't sing." My mom convinced him to put her on stage and she sang with them. The second night he turned her microphone off.
Now I know where I get my singing abilities from. :)

I spoke next, or rather I cried and some words came out. I saw kind eyes from the people who loved my mom. Proud, tear-filled eyes from my dad. Loving eyes from my husband.

Several others spoke. Aunt Jackie talked about a time when they were kids. Mom had covered her dresser with jars filled with bugs. "They need a home!"

The question was asked, "Does anyone else want to speak? My Great Aunt Mary stood up and said, "We'll I've got to!" with the conviction of a 90 year old woman who knows the voice of God and understands, when He calls you to action, you move. She talked about how she gave Jeff a kiss and he had wiped it off. She said she was trying to get his number. God love Aunt Mary. Hands in the air, Hallelujah the altar is open. She loved my mother as though she were her own and she never stopped looking out for her.

My father spoke. I will never find the words to express what this meant to me. We all had to wait a moment for him to collect himself, which gave all of us time to collect tissues. He spoke of how they met. How she turned his life upside down and made him forget all of his bachelor plans. Her family brought him to Christ. That alone makes my mother's life a life worth living. She saved my dad. If anyone had a reason to be angry at my mother, it was my dad. She left him with a daughter to raise alone. He picked up the broken pieces of my heart after her phone calls and visits. And yet, he walked to the podium and showed me what forgiveness and grace looks like. He was never angry. Only grateful.
I have no words.

My brother spoke and read from the Bible. He sang There's No Other Name Like Jesus and invited everyone to sing along. The soft voices of the people around me filled my heart.

It was beautiful and a lovely tribute to my mom. It glorified God and I know she would be proud. I'm blessed to call everyone in that room my family. Blessed.