Mixed Emotions

A gathering together for a funeral service certainly brings out mixed emotions in a person.  Betty's funeral service was this afternoon.  I wasn't sure that I could attend it.  My emotions are still so very near the surface and apt to spill over from my own memories.

I met Betty when I was a student teacher, assigned to the Columbus Elementary School.  She was the sixth grade teacher and also principal of the school. She was tall and thin, dignified and very much in command.  When she spoke, students listened.  She loved order and discipline.  I was in awe of her.

Through the years that followed I knew Betty as an acquaintance and then when my husband became the pastor of the Columbus Church, I got to know Betty more personally because she was a very active member in the church.  Betty was an integral part of the Women's Fellowship, usually taking the office of vice president for the group.  I always admired the way she used her abilities and the way she was comfortable with friendship.  Betty began her physical decline two or three years ago and we were really saddened when she was no longer able to participate in her usual activities and could no longer attend church services.  On Tuesday, she died at the age of 88.  Her funeral service was this afternoon.

Our church sanctuary is rather small and it was packed to the point where we had to open the overflow room on the side.  When I went in, about ten minutes before the service was to start, there wasn't a big choice of seats.  I walked into the overflow room looking for a place to sit and there was Jeff, a classmate of my boys, already seated, and smiling at me.  I sat with Jeff.  We sang from the same hymnal.  I felt like I was sitting with one of my own sons.  He sang bass beautifully.  At the close of the service, I thanked him for sitting with me and he told me that he felt honored to sit with me. What a nice thing to say!  He invited me to sit with his family during the dinner that followed.  There were so many people to meet and talk to.  The conversation and laughter rose to a higher and higher level as people finished their meals and gave all their attention to talking.  It's such a good emotion to share good conversation and laughter with friends you've not seen for many years.  I was glad that I went.  I went alone, but I didn't stay alone.  I felt wrapped in love as I headed home again. 

It was very sad to go to the funeral service but it was very happy to be enfolded in love as I met and talked with people I haven't seen for a while.

Posted by: NJ on 1/22/2006 5:32:25 PM , 4 comments