If you've been reading my blog for the last couple of days you know that I have been talking about emotions, death, and frustrations. Today I, with the help of my husband have decided that today should be about feeling alive again. (Don't ask Jeff why he said as he said it came to him after drinking an energy drink and 2 cups of coffee!)
Alot of this week has been about dealing with the death of a close family friend...a young man who we all feel left this world too early. Last night, as we sat celebrating Jeff's grandfather's 86th birthday, I was reminded how important it is to celebrate life. Today, we celebrate with my family my nephew's 4th birthday as well as one of my siblings turned another year older today as well. So...while we will be attending the funeral today we need to remember what that funeral is a celebration of: LIFE! I was reminded yesterday by someone wise that the funeral service itself is not a final goodbye but rather a celebration of the resurrection of the person who has passed. We as humans grieve and cry at the funeral because of two things: 1. We are sad we will no longer see the physical manifestation of that person who passed; and 2. We are happy that the person we lost is going to be rising to a much better life than what we have here on earth.
Regardless of what religion you are (unless you are atheist) you believe there is an afterlife. My belief tells me that regardless of how the individual died, they still have a potential to have been forgiven of their sins at the point of death and to be in heaven with God. How lucky that person is to be free of the pain and struggle that exists here on earth! So..in a way...I am jealous...thus, I cry at funerals.
Celebrating the birthdays we celebrate this time of year, on the first day of Spring, reminds us that new life exists. New life exists even in an 86 yr old body as we witnessed Jeff's grandfather yesterday blow out ALL the candles on his cake. Okay...okay...so there were only 8 candles, but for 86 yr old lungs that was pretty good! Today we celebrate my nephew Dewey's 4th birthday. Dewey was the miracle child for my sister. He was conceived the same day (they think) as when my Grandfather died and he proves by his childlike ways just how much of a miracle he is every day.
Today, while I am going to be sad about the funeral, I am going to celebrate life. I am going to celebrate miracles that happen. I am going to celebrate our friend's rising up on this last day. I am going to celebrate the smiles of my nephew and the health of Jeff's grandfather and I am going to feel alive! Is their any better of a day than the first day of spring to start feeling alive again? I think not.
I was once worried about those who might not be able to make it to heaven. And I mean it really bothered me. It was on my mind so much, that God actually gave me a personal answer. Without going into it, I know that my answer was of God. Oh yeah, I'm sure that there is life after death, and the answer I got was that we will all be there together. Is there a heaven or hell? I don't know, but I know that it won't keep us all apart when we get there.
ReplyDeleteLike I told my Dad when he was only seconds from permanently closing his eyes, "We'll all be with you there soon, even sooner that you think".