The Light Shines On

It is not often that one arrives at the cemetery 35 years after the funeral, but this past Thanksgiving Sunday, that is exactly what my wife’s family did.

Sara’s Grandma, Faye, died of Multiple Sclerosis in the early 1970s. In an effort to help other families avoid living through a similar tragedy, the family donated her body to the University of Saskatchewan so that they could do research regarding this disease. A funeral was held and a memorial stone was placed in a cemetery in Kansas.

This past year, however, the family found out that the University had buried Faye in Woodlawn cemetery in Saskatoon and so plans were made to place a stone on her actual grave. To be honest, I did not want to go. I mean, it was 35 years ago! Sure, Saskatoon is the actual spot, but, in reality, what difference does that make? It is just a plot of ground. Why would we bother driving up there just to stand around another stone?

Well, I am glad that I went, because we did more than just “stand around another stone”. In that cemetery, 35 years after her death, Sara and I met her Grandma Faye. Not physically, of course, but, in a very real way, we became acquainted with someone neither one of us had ever met and we were encouraged.

As each of her children told stories about their mom, we learned of her life, her attitude, her joy and, most of all, her faith in God. We laughed. Some cried. All were strengthened by being there. Strangely, more than half of the 30 people at the cemetery were simply friends who wanted to come and honour Faye’s life. Thirty five years later, people still remembered her and wanted to tell their story about who she was and how she had helped them.

The Bible says, “Encourage one another – and all the more as you see the day approaching” (Hebrews 10:25) and that is exactly what Faye did in her life and, somehow, continues to do today. Obviously, our influence lives on long after we depart.

Initially, I only went because I am part of the family. After having been there, I would not have missed it!

Without ever having met her, Faye reminded me that a life lived in the light of Lord is certainly a life worth living.