Flowers In The Grave

 The whole scene was heart wrenching. First of all, we met at a cemetery. That usually means their was a death. Only this death occurred some time ago. We gathered to bury the remains of the deceased. To make matters worse, the death occurred a little over four months ago. The pain is still fresh and the emotions still raw. As if that were not enough pain, this was the birthdate of the deceased. To add to the pain, a father and mother were burying their son on the day before Mother's Day. Gut wrenching. Believe it or not, an additional layer of pain happened when the deceased's two daughters stood at the grave. One too little to understand. The other old enough to miss her daddy. 

Several dozen gathered to bury this son, grandson, brother, and father. When his two daughters started placing roses in the grave it was hard to watch. Hard to watch the mom and dad burying their son. Hard to watch family members grieving all over again. Hard to watch those little girls. The older got on her hands and knees and carefully dropped her flowers in the grave. The younger just dropped hers. 

My task was to bring a measure of hope and comfort to a grieving family for the second time in a public setting. Where is there hope to be found in such heart wrenching circumstances? Only one place. I turned to the Bible. [I Thess 4:13-18]  and [I Cor 15:51-57] We talked about themes like grieving as those who have hope because of the return of Jesus and bodily resurrection of those who are dead in Christ. We talked about putting on immortality in the resurrection. The hope is found from looking from the perspective of the deceased. Hope is found in the grace, forgiveness and salvation found in Jesus. Hope is that death is gain for those redeemed by the blood of the lamb. 

It does not take away the pain of grief. There are still weepy days and tear filled nights. There is still an ache in the pit of the gut that cannot be soothed. There are many questions that may never be answered this side of eternity. EVEN IN ALL OF THAT THERE IS STILL HOPE. That hope is found in Jesus and the everlasting life He offers. 

I will long remember those two little girls dropping flowers in their father's grave. Their father would have been 28 today. Tragic. I think I will remember the mother's last words before we departed for a long time, "Don't take days for granted. I did not know I would have him for such a short time."

One day it could be us dropping flowers in the grave of a loved one. May we live from this day to that one with no regrets. Let all the "I love you," be said. Let all the time that can be cherished be cherished. Let all the memories be made that can be made. Take all the snap shots with your heart of those memories. One day it could be us in the grave with loved ones dropping flowers on us or us dropping flowers on someone we love.

 Life is fragile. I am reminded of that often as a pastor. Old people die. Young people die. Children sometimes die. Parents die as well as sons and daughters. Best friends also die. I hope this a sober reminder to live ready. To live ready to face eternity and judgement on any given day. Tyler trusted Jesus as his Savior and was ready. Being ready is not done by good deeds. It is done through a saving personal relationship with Jesus. See [Gal 2:8-9]. Get prepared before they are dropping flowers in your grave. Let those who are left behind to grieve you do so with the hope of a reunion.