I went to my Aunt Virginia's funeral today. I had preconceived ideas of how it was going to be. Due in part I think to the fact that she belonged to a rather old and traditional Baptist Church. Much to my surprise; the funeral was not necessarily what you would have expected. Sure there were the requisite singers with poor audio and sound tracks, and the expected prayers and so on. BUT the huge difference was in the words of the pastor. He made it very plain that he had spoken to Virginia at some time and she had been specific about what her funeral should and should not be. She did not want a funeral about her! She wanted very much for the pastor to use the opportunity to speak to people who were gathered in her honor and remembrance, who may not have full understanding of God and Heaven. He managed to both honor my aunt and tell of salvation at the same time. Interspersed in his message were references to who Virginia was as a daughter of God. I was so touched and thrilled when he read Proverbs 31 and talked of how she WAS a Proverbs 31 woman. How her beloved husband, Thomas had cherished her and been honored by her living out her life this way.

I have to say that for me personally this funeral experience was very much one that was a true celebration of the life lived on Earth and among us here and how the end is not the end. The pastor spoke of how she 'went to sleep and woke in the loving arms of God'. If that doesn't move you, I just don't know what would.
I know some people just didn't get it. I could FEEL that it didn't make sense to some; those who were perhaps expecting keening and terrific sorrow. Instead they had a group of people singing songs of faith and God's great love and promises to us. I hope that in some way as the service moved on, that perhaps a tiny bit of openmindedness happened for these people. That is after all what Shinny had wanted this to be; a chance for them to hear that God has a great love for them.

I walked out of the church and into the bright sunlight and felt great gladness of heart. What a glorious celebration of a wonderful and loving woman of God.