So Much Love

We will often enjoy a meal, an event, or a gift. We will express our gratitude and quickly move on to the next thing. We will not always allow what was shared with us to soak into our being. In fact, by our actions, we don't seem to have a clue about what went into getting us the gift. Like the gift of Christ to the world. As we well know, there was a world of things that went into getting Jesus to us. "God so loved..."John 3:16. At least a decade ago, I attended the funeral of a lady in our church. I knew her, but not so well. She was well-known by the membership for many years. She served well and was a noted teacher for many years. She taught her Sunday school class until the leadership was forced to ask her to resign. She probably would have died teaching her class. She was committed and dedicated. There are other things that I could cite about her during the brief time that I knew her, but none more poignant than the way she preplanned and orchestrated her own funeral. The service was long, but so little is remembered of what went on that day. Interestingly enough, I remember that I did not wish it to end. She did not apologize for the elongated service which was expressed best in her own words and pre-planned orchestration. Even while dead, she was in charge. Indeed, the mistress of the service, whose overwhelming presence filled the sanctuary, was the conductor of her own life's orchestra. There is a line that I most remember about her funeral. It is a noteworthy line that, often in our quest to be modest and humble, which is the noblest to be, we will miss something important. Like most of you, it's unlikely that I will request such attention at my funeral. I remember the line especially at Christmas because it reminds me of how God 'thought upon us'. This remarkable Sunday school teacher that I once knew, said it best for us all, "Make a fuss over me". RM122422PS