one of my favorite clients passed away last week. G. was 81, but in relative good health, and was not battling with any life-threatening conditions....so, it was rather unexpected. i was caught off-guard when i found out the news. today i went to her funeral at her church, and it was a joyful celebration of her life. though there was sadness for the loss of someone who is special and loved by many, we were reminded that G is not "lost", and her life was indeed a reflection of her favorite song that she used to sing:"Let the work of my hands speak for me." i thought that G. would have loved the music sung during the service, though it made me emotional as i recalled the many times we've sung them in the 7 years i saw her. G. had told me many times how she valued our time together, and how the music we shared helped lift her, and we joked about how she could be a walking ad for music therapy. as i reflect on our relationship, i can say that she had encouraged me more than she'll know, that she ministered to my soul even as i was there to "help" her.
the scripture reading for G's service included these verses. i know she has always loved the passage in John; she is home now.
the scripture reading for G's service included these verses. i know she has always loved the passage in John; she is home now.
For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven:
a time to be born, and a time to die;a time to plant, and a time to pluck up what is planted; a time to kill, and a time to heal;a time to break down, and a time to build up; a time to weep, and a time to laugh;a time to mourn, and a time to dance; a time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together;a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing; a time to seek, and a time to lose;a time to keep, and a time to cast away; a time to tear, and a time to sew;a time to keep silence, and a time to speak; a time to love, and a time to hate;a time for war, and a time for peace. -Ecclesiastes 3:1-8
"Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. In my Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if 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. And you know the way to where I am going." Thomas said to him, "Lord, we do not know where you are going. How can we know the way?" Jesus said to him,"I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. -John 14:1-6
