I wanted to share this story from the
week Marie and I went to Tony's Grandmother's memorial. She wanted to
be cremated, so after the family saw her for the last time her body was
taken to the mortuary.
At the memorial, Ashlee quietly cuddled up beside Marie and then said, "Poor Gramma Lela, huh?" Marie said, "Yeah, poor Gramma Lela," then she pulled her closer under her arm. Ashlee was quiet, but kept looking up at Marie like she had more to say, then she said with a solemn, matter-of-fact gaze, "We burned her."
Kim said that it was hard to explain to the kids about cremation. They didn't seem to think that was something that should be done. She said that Ashlee reacted the strongest when she explained what cremation meant. Of course we all know that Lela is not there anymore, the life of her is where life continues. Yet, these hard facts related to death are hard to tell children about.
Lela "Adeline" S. Egbert, 82, (9/5/1924 - 11/13/2006), wanted her remains to be scattered in Santa Maria, California where she spent a lot of her young life. A fact I never knew about Lela was that she was a master seamstress and that she sewed a lot of the costumes for "The Fiddler on the Roof."
Memorial donations were directed by the family to go to the Children's Hospital at Providence Alaska Medical Center. The Children's Hospital includes the NICU at Providence Hospital where our very first grand baby Alexis Dustene spent the first two weeks of her life, struggling with a collapsed lung.
While I was reading Lela's and others obituaries it made me wonder what mine could say someday. Besides raising five wonderful kids I don't have many accomplishments under my belt to even be mentioned in an obituary and I am curious to see what it would read like. I even considered writing one for myself! I know, it's a depressing thing to think about, but it does have a way of setting my hearts desires aright to consider my own death.
So teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom. ~Psalm 90:12
6 comments:
I was reminded of a time in my life when I was struggling with significance. I was thinking how I had never went to college (and I love to learn and am a veracious reader). I had other thoughts of how my life was not anything like I had thought it would be. I had studied Classical Ballet for 10 years and my heart's desire was to dance. I made some choices that took my life in a whole other turn.
About this time, Jessica expressed a desire to be baptized. Coming home afterwards, the Lord reminded me that no earthly accomplishment I would ever do could compare to raising our children in a Christian home and having them accept Christ as Savior. Textbooks and newspapers may never write my name in them but as long as my name and those I love are written in the only book that matters: The Book of Life, I am a success in God's eyes!
You have said that very well! Thanks Connie.
I think you have one of the most interesting lives of any one I know. Not just because you're my mother. I seriously think you should write a book about your life. I'd buy it.
Me too! ; )
Great blog, I hope to visit your great state someday. Please visit my blog and sign my guestbook. Have a great day
Your accomplishments are reflected in the lives of all those you have impacted throughout your life. Many you will never know about in this life. Your obituary will fill a book which I look forward to reading with you when we reach that final land.
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