There is a great reunion going on in heaven today as Mom has been reunited with Dad (her sweetheart from the sixth grade), her mother and father, grandparents, uncles and aunts, cousins, and friends who have gone before her. What a day of rejoicing this is! As I look around the room, I sense that we are in the midst of a paradox. I see sad faces and tears of grief. Our tears do not appear to be tears of joy. How can this be? We people of faith profess to believe that this life is merely a time of preparation for a better and more satisfying life. Why are we grieving if we truly believe that Mom has gone to a better place? Is our faith faltering? Do we truly believe what we profess? Are the promises of Jesus without substance? Are we false prophets? Did he not say, "And when I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also?"
I have a theory about the sorrow we are feeling simultaneous to the jubilation of this triumphant celebration. I think we are grieving for ourselves, not for Mom. Our lives will be different without her. She has always been there for us. We are fearful of what our lives will be like without her love, encouragement, and prayers. We do not know how to deal with the differences in the way we will feel and act without her presence and support.
It is surely all right to grieve for ourselves. After all, Jesus wept at the death of his friend Lazarus. He knew that though "Lazarus was dead yet he lived." Jesus said to Martha the sister of Lazarus, " I am the resurrection and the life; he who believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, and whoever lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?"
Family and friends, we do believe this. Through our tears of grief we are rejoicing and celebrating life. Have faith that God will console us in our grief and lead us to walk on in joy and comfort without the earthly presence of Wilma/Mom.
Many years ago, the Archbishop of London was visiting a dying child. As he crossed a dimly lit room to the side of the little girl, he asked her if there was anything he could do for her. She pleaded, "Please help me. I am afraid to die." He asked if she would like for him to carry her into the sunlit living room where everything was bright and cheerful. She replied that she would enjoy that very much. He smiled and said, "That is what God is about to do for you. He will soon be reaching down with his loving arms and carry you to a more beautiful place where you can be happy forever."
All of us have sinned and come short of the glory of God and his purpose for us. So did Mom. But, she has been cleansed in the blood of the Lamb and stands worthy before God today in his dwelling place. Praise God that in his infinite love, he has lifted her up from the heartaches and pain of this world and she now dwells in the house of the Lord forever.
Twenty-three years ago, Mom and Dad enjoyed a few nights of camping. On the day of their return home, they went for a hike and enjoyed the beauty and warmth of a sunny spring day. During the evening Dad asked her to call for his friend Luther to bring the ambulance and take him to the hospital. He was feeling some discomfort in his chest. Luther was the local funeral director and ambulance driver. They had conducted hundreds of funerals together and Luther was a trusted friend. Luther put Dad on the ambulance gurney and took him three blocks to the small town hospital where Dad served as volunteer chaplain. As Luther removed the gurney containing Dad from the ambulance, Dad said, "I'm feeling better now, I can walk to the emergency room." Luther had listened to Dad's heart with a stethoscope before departing for the hospital and had not liked what he heard. He said, "Dr. Robling, I'm sure that you are all right but since you are already on the gurney let me wheel you in." Dad consented. Luther pushed him into the emergency room. One of Dad's parishioners and best friends, Dr. Carl Schlageter was on duty in the emergency room. Luther and Dr. Carl lifted him from the gurney and laid him on the emergency room table. Dad immediately looked across the room and smiled a tremendously happy smile. His eyes were beaming. He seemed as though he was seeing a long lost friend. He exclaimed, "Oh Jesus, I love you!" Those were his last words as he took his last breath. Praise God, he saw Jesus come to get him!
Now Jesus has come to get Mom. What a glorious day this is!
As we leave this service today, let us rejoice and celebrate life! Jesus is coming to take each of us to a grand reunion where we will enjoy the glory of his presence forever. Believe it! Celebrate it! Rejoice with me today and everyday until we all meet again.
Daniel P. Robling
robling@netwrx.net
DAN'S WEBSITE http://personal.netwrx.net/robling
contact me online at ICQ# 20742508
"People will forget what you said. People will forget what you did. But, they will never forget how you made them feel."-anonymous