"Charlotte was a strong woman..." a pause to look out over the people who'd gathers to honor the woman who'd passed. "She had a strong sense of values. She had a strong love for her family. And she had a strong love for God. In the last ten years that I knew her she did more for the churches and the women in this community then most have been able to do in a lifetime. She was a stubborn woman who would not accept anything to be done half-way. It had to be done right or done over. This was so in her home," a look to the woman's children, who smiled and nodded at the fond memories the words brought back. "and in her ministries." Another look over at those who'd worked with in the woman's groups, then to those who'd been helped by her women's groups. All nodded agreement, holding tissues and handkerchiefs up to their eyes and noses.
"I have never seen a woman so passionate about life. She made every day her last day on earth, never leaving anything unfinished or unresolved. I can't remember a single argument she ever had with anyone she didn't make amends for that very same day." a glance over at the woman's husband. He sat staring at the coffin at the head of the room, his loss evident by the grief-stricken expression across his face. "That was just how she was. There was no special effort. She simply lived day to day, the way everyone ought to. She lived with her eyes on heaven, and everything she did reflected that. Her life was a picture of heaven itself. There was no mistake Jesus shown through in her ever action. And she was so happy for that. You could just see her face light up when someone told her that. But Charlotte was always a humble sort. When it came to her accomplishments never once did I hear her take the credit. It was always for the hard work of others, by the grace of God. What a testimony. What a blessing it was to know her, to have met her."
Ducky paused here, not for the sake of the people he was speaking to, but for his own sake. His eyes were watery, his voice thick with emotion. This wasn't just a eulogy for a person he'd never met before. This was the life of a woman he'd considered one of his dearest friends. His sister in just about every sense of the word. To know that he would never be able to see her again the way he used to, call her up for a Bible study or church bake sale, taste one of her sweet homemade pies...oh, he was going to miss her terribly. "The day that Charlotte left us the world lost an amazing woman. A woman who loved, who laughed, who lived. But all of us gathered here today, we are not here to mourn her passing, but rather to celebrate her having lived with us for the time that she had. I speak for myself, and for all of you, when I say that we will miss her fiercely. But we can rest in the hope that some of us will see her again someday. I know Charlotte is happy now. More so than you or I could begin to imagine. And someday we'll go up to meet her and we can share in that everlasting joy! But for now, let's live. Live the way she would have wanted, the way she showed us by her great example. Let's pray." The room as a whole bowed their heads in respect as the pastor's low voice spoke no longer to them, but to someone much more important.
"Heavenly Father, we come to you today in a very sorry state. Our hearts are breaking for the loss of our dear friend, mother, wife, sister, daughter, grandmother Charlotte. We thank You for her life. That You gave each and every once of us the true privileged to have met this wonderful woman. We thank You that You welcomed her into Your family ten years ago and that You hold her in Your arms now. We ask, Lord, that you would give to us Your peace and Your joy that Charlotte showed to us every day. Comfort our souls as we wait for the day that we will see her again with You. Thank you for this beautiful service in memory of this beautiful woman. May all our days be as filled with You as hers were. In Jesus name we pray, Amen." The congregation whispered in unison their amen's, raising their heads and waiting for the rest of the service to continue. Ducky stepped down from the podium and sat next to his wife, who took his hand and squeezed it for the emotional support she was in need of. Another man took Ducky's place on stage and explained to the group that they would now be allowed to say their last goodbyes before the casket was taken to the burial sight. It was requested that the family be allowed to go first so that they could ready their cars for the procession to the grave sight. Ducky watched as one by one people began to stand. Charlie, then her children and grandchildren. Ducky's own daughter urged him and Linda to come as they walked on.
"You're as much family to Charlotte as we are, dad. Come on," she leaned over to tell him, pulling him and her sisters out of their seats to walk with them. Ducky did as he was told, following the rest of the family past the open casket. He didn't look in though. The people who'd prepared her for this day had done a good job of making her look pretty, but she didn't looks like Charlotte. Her body had already been vacated. She wasn't there. Ducky knew she no longer looked like the woman he and Linda considered one of their own family as well. She no longer looked like Charlotte, he didn't want to see that. Instead he focused on getting up, getting past, and getting out. As they walked along the aisles on their way to the back door and towards the parking lot, Ducky couldn't help but overhear the silent whispers of the different people who'd come. Talking about Charlotte or what they were going to do after leaving or where they'd go for lunch now. He smiled. It was good to know people weren't going to lock themselves inside their homes and cry. They were going to go out and celebrate, honor her the way she would have wanted to be honored. It was a good thing. But one voice, he couldn't help but notice, stood how over the rest...mainly because it was much louder than the whispers and the sniffles of the others.
"Now can we go to Chik-fil-e???" the loud little voice echoed through the building, even though it was obvious he was trying his hardest to be quiet.
"Shhhh!" came the hurried response from the man next to him.
"But Christian! They've got those bug capturing boxes in the kids meals and I want one before they're all gone!" People were turning to look at the two boys as the older desperately tried to silence the younger. Many of the parents who knew the pair were smiling and snickering at the all but humorous child. It was all Ducky could do not to join in. As he passed their pew he leaned over and whispered, "You both are invited to my house after the casket is buried. Miss Linda's making pie." He beamed as he heard from behind him the little voice gasp. "Forget the bugs, Chris! We get pie!!!"
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"I have never seen a woman so passionate about life. She made every day her last day on earth, never leaving anything unfinished or unresolved. I can't remember a single argument she ever had with anyone she didn't make amends for that very same day." a glance over at the woman's husband. He sat staring at the coffin at the head of the room, his loss evident by the grief-stricken expression across his face. "That was just how she was. There was no special effort. She simply lived day to day, the way everyone ought to. She lived with her eyes on heaven, and everything she did reflected that. Her life was a picture of heaven itself. There was no mistake Jesus shown through in her ever action. And she was so happy for that. You could just see her face light up when someone told her that. But Charlotte was always a humble sort. When it came to her accomplishments never once did I hear her take the credit. It was always for the hard work of others, by the grace of God. What a testimony. What a blessing it was to know her, to have met her."
Ducky paused here, not for the sake of the people he was speaking to, but for his own sake. His eyes were watery, his voice thick with emotion. This wasn't just a eulogy for a person he'd never met before. This was the life of a woman he'd considered one of his dearest friends. His sister in just about every sense of the word. To know that he would never be able to see her again the way he used to, call her up for a Bible study or church bake sale, taste one of her sweet homemade pies...oh, he was going to miss her terribly. "The day that Charlotte left us the world lost an amazing woman. A woman who loved, who laughed, who lived. But all of us gathered here today, we are not here to mourn her passing, but rather to celebrate her having lived with us for the time that she had. I speak for myself, and for all of you, when I say that we will miss her fiercely. But we can rest in the hope that some of us will see her again someday. I know Charlotte is happy now. More so than you or I could begin to imagine. And someday we'll go up to meet her and we can share in that everlasting joy! But for now, let's live. Live the way she would have wanted, the way she showed us by her great example. Let's pray." The room as a whole bowed their heads in respect as the pastor's low voice spoke no longer to them, but to someone much more important.
"Heavenly Father, we come to you today in a very sorry state. Our hearts are breaking for the loss of our dear friend, mother, wife, sister, daughter, grandmother Charlotte. We thank You for her life. That You gave each and every once of us the true privileged to have met this wonderful woman. We thank You that You welcomed her into Your family ten years ago and that You hold her in Your arms now. We ask, Lord, that you would give to us Your peace and Your joy that Charlotte showed to us every day. Comfort our souls as we wait for the day that we will see her again with You. Thank you for this beautiful service in memory of this beautiful woman. May all our days be as filled with You as hers were. In Jesus name we pray, Amen." The congregation whispered in unison their amen's, raising their heads and waiting for the rest of the service to continue. Ducky stepped down from the podium and sat next to his wife, who took his hand and squeezed it for the emotional support she was in need of. Another man took Ducky's place on stage and explained to the group that they would now be allowed to say their last goodbyes before the casket was taken to the burial sight. It was requested that the family be allowed to go first so that they could ready their cars for the procession to the grave sight. Ducky watched as one by one people began to stand. Charlie, then her children and grandchildren. Ducky's own daughter urged him and Linda to come as they walked on.
"You're as much family to Charlotte as we are, dad. Come on," she leaned over to tell him, pulling him and her sisters out of their seats to walk with them. Ducky did as he was told, following the rest of the family past the open casket. He didn't look in though. The people who'd prepared her for this day had done a good job of making her look pretty, but she didn't looks like Charlotte. Her body had already been vacated. She wasn't there. Ducky knew she no longer looked like the woman he and Linda considered one of their own family as well. She no longer looked like Charlotte, he didn't want to see that. Instead he focused on getting up, getting past, and getting out. As they walked along the aisles on their way to the back door and towards the parking lot, Ducky couldn't help but overhear the silent whispers of the different people who'd come. Talking about Charlotte or what they were going to do after leaving or where they'd go for lunch now. He smiled. It was good to know people weren't going to lock themselves inside their homes and cry. They were going to go out and celebrate, honor her the way she would have wanted to be honored. It was a good thing. But one voice, he couldn't help but notice, stood how over the rest...mainly because it was much louder than the whispers and the sniffles of the others.
"Now can we go to Chik-fil-e???" the loud little voice echoed through the building, even though it was obvious he was trying his hardest to be quiet.
"Shhhh!" came the hurried response from the man next to him.
"But Christian! They've got those bug capturing boxes in the kids meals and I want one before they're all gone!" People were turning to look at the two boys as the older desperately tried to silence the younger. Many of the parents who knew the pair were smiling and snickering at the all but humorous child. It was all Ducky could do not to join in. As he passed their pew he leaned over and whispered, "You both are invited to my house after the casket is buried. Miss Linda's making pie." He beamed as he heard from behind him the little voice gasp. "Forget the bugs, Chris! We get pie!!!"
To continue reading this chapter, click here!
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