Don’t Wait to Say It Til They’re Dead. . . (4 Funerals and a Wedding)
This past week I have seen 4 funerals of people that I know. Two of them are family members of church members and the other 2 are celebrities – Farrah Fawcett and Michael Jackson.
One thing I notice about funerals is that friends and relatives would honor their dead through eulogy which is a tribute to the person who passed away.
I was deeply touched by the stories and testimonies that friends and family shared about the deceased. Those were wonderful words of appreciation.
Eccl. 7:1 A good name is better than fine perfume, and the day of death better than the day of birth.
Solomon said that death is better than birth because death is the summation of a person’s life. What will people say about us when we are finally lying down in our casket? What would you like them to say about you? The words spoken are dependent on how you live your life NOW and how you will nurture the relationships that you have.
While I agree that words of honor should be said about a person when he is dead to summarize his life’s accomplishments and celebrate the relationships that he made. We need to take the time to honor our loved ones while they are still alive. Let them hear how much we love and appreciate them.
Do not wait until they are dead before you say those beautiful speeches.
Say it while they can hear it.
In contrast, a wedding is an ocassion where the couple openly say what they feel for each other.
I like going to weddings. It’s a celebration of a couple’s love for each other.
Tonight, I am officiating a renewal of vows ceremony for a couple in church. They have been married for 25 years. They will be expressing their commitment to one another. And they will do it publicly before friends and family. They will say how much they love and appreciate each other and will make a promise that they will be faithful to the other until the very end.
Of course, words of affirmation should not just be said during the wedding ceremony but should be a regular part of the married life.
1Th. 5:11 Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.
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Ariel, your mention of that passage about death being the summation of one’s life reminded me of a revelation the Lord gave me after my cousin, Api, passed away several years back. The Lord showed me that in the end, each person’s life will reflect a nature/character of God. For example, after Api died, the Lord showed me that Api’s life will testify to “God’s mercy.”.
Knowing that was like a salve to my hurting heart while I was grieving for Api.
I now often wonder which characteristic of God will sum up MY life… will it be “God’s tender love?” or “the Father heart of God?”.
Humbling to think about it, right?
July 3rd, 2009 at 8:24 pmIt’s humbling alright, Jenny. But as we walk with God we are being conformed in His image.
2Cor. 3:18 And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.
July 4th, 2009 at 12:23 am