We, as a church, felt their loss and our hearts were burdened to help them walk this confusing and sad time. In this moment, I believe our love for them grew. It seems when we walk along anyone who is in the midst of a difficult life event, we grow closer. We seem to let go of ourselves and become whatever we need to be to help those we love. It seems nothing is more important than being there for those we care about.
Such times stay with us all forever. So many of us have lost loved ones. So many of us still carry the pain and loss. If we all decide that part of loving one another is carrying each other's burdens then life becomes a bit more wonderful and amazing. We can never take that sorrow away, we can only walk alongside those who are in the midst of it. That is love.
Hurting when others hurt is love. Giving up your own list of to do’s to be there with those experiencing such loss is love. Praying for them, cooking for them, or doing errands for them are all expressions of love. Love has no limits. Love does not punch a time clock. Love does not take a day off. Love never sleeps and it never ends. Love is a gift from God and it is a gift that was intended by the Giver to be shared every chance we have.
As I sat during the funeral service, I heard testimonies from a nephew and a granddaughter. They talked of how this man touched their lives in ways, I imagine, he never knew. That single thought should make us pause to think about what kind of impression we are leaving on those around us. I can only pray that the only impression I leave on anyone is a good impression.
At the end of the service, the guests were asked to pass by the deceased and offer their last respects. One by one, they filed by. Some cried, some were solemn while others looked drained.
I saw people, young and old, pass by. I saw some well dressed and some not as well dressed. I saw some who looked as if life had been hard, while others seemed to have been given everything they wished for. Some had tattoos and others did not. Some had long hair and beards while others were clean shaven and manicured.
What stood out was that they all loved and they all mourned the loss of this man regardless of what life had brought their own way. They all experienced loss and they all were hurting. While each person that walked by looked different, they all had similar feelings. They all gave and felt love. In that, were they not all the same? In that, are we not all the same?
It seemed that God wanted me to understand that we are all not that different. We may wrap the package differently but inside we are all the same. We all love and we are all hurt by such loss. When can we start looking at other people and understand that we all experience life’s ups and downs and strive to be compassionate toward those around us without reservation? When can we look at another person and realize they too were created by Almighty God Himself and treasure them. He created each and every one of us for a reason and for a purpose. We are all His handiwork. We are all to be loved and accepted no matter what we might look like on the outside.
That day, we were a group of strangers brought together out of our love for someone else and in that, we were all the same. We were all born and we will all pass. We all have a need to love and be loved. We all hurt and we all feel joy. We are all of one race, the human race. Isn't it insane that we cannot believe how we, together as a race of humans, could do mighty, beautiful and amazing things?
We have all lived different lives and have experienced different things. We have all had different successes and failures. But we are all the same when we get back down to what makes us human.
During the funeral, people didn’t offer condolences only to the people without tattoos or only to the ones with long hair. Hugs, love and condolences were offered to all who came out of love for the one who passed and his family. If we can do that, why can’t we do it in every situation on any given day. Love one another - no matter what. Why is it so hard to get past the outside and become united because of the inside?
Love is a gift of God, given to be shared and spread around generously. So, what is in the way that might be holding us back? What holds you back?
John 4:19; “We love because He first loved us.”
We didn’t invent love, He did and He generously poured His love out for us. He gave up much to come to us that we might have hope. He came, lived, suffered, died and rose again that we may have life eternal through Him. He lived and returned to wait with the Father to greet us when our walk on earth is done. He gave all He had to all of us because He loves us all, regardless of our differences.
One day, all of us will pass away and life as we know it will cease to exist. The truth is that when life leaves our body we are not done, for real life has just begun.