Skip to main content

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.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

New Article: Grace Changes Everything

               A young man broke into a business and did $5000 damage. As part of his Restorative Justice sentence, he was required to meet with my friend Garth.   Garth believes in making apologies and restitution.   It took several months, but Garth finally convinced the young man that these were necessary steps, so he tried to arrange a meeting with the business owner.                The business owner wanted nothing to do with this situation.   He was angry and wanted a more severe form of justice.   Eventually, however, he agreed to meet the young man to hear what he had to say.                  The young man looked the business owner in the eye an...
Post a Comment
Read more

New Article: Navigating the New Year

                 As we begin another new year, I cannot help but think of Joshua.   Moses had been leading God’s people to the promised land.   However, just before they arrived, Moses died, and Joshua was put in charge.   Faced with the uncertainty of what was coming, God gave him the following advice.                “Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, that you may be successful wherever you go. Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful. Have I not commanded you? Be stron...
Post a Comment
Read more

New Article: We need a Better Scorecard

                   “Is that a Sun Ice?”                “Excuse me,” I said.                My friend pointed to my new ski jacket and asked again, “Is that a Sun Ice?”                It was 1991 and Sun Ice was the big name in ski wear at the time.   “No” I replied, “I can’t afford one of those”.                “Oh” he said as he lost interest and then just walked away.                I had not seen this friend in more than a year and, sadly, his first ...
Post a Comment
Read more