I was blessed to attend the funeral service for Meldene Wharton last Wednesday, where she was remembered by a host of family and friends trying their best not to be outdone by the heavenly host welcoming her home. I think we may have fallen a little short. The service, held at the Church of Christ in Groesbeck, had me about half way between where my grandmothers are buried, one in Union Cemetery near Donie, and the other in Oakwood Cemetery in Waco. If you don’t know where these places are, congratulations, and if you do, we’re probably cousins.
I was impressed with both the levity and seriousness of the service. Meldene was the mother of five rambunctious boys, and she loved her daughters-in-law, calling them daughters-in-love. (In my family, they were called out-laws, LOL.) Meldene could win any argument, because when she just couldn’t take it anymore, she would start singing, “O, how I love Jesus. O, how I love Jesus,…” and just like that, the argument was over. How can you argue about loving Jesus? The two most common words used to describe her life were, wait for it, FAITHFUL and JOY. But her life’s theme, remembered by both family and friends was TIME. She earnestly desired to spend time with her family, as much time as possible, making every minute count. She knew time was precious and not to be wasted. I think I could sum her life up with the phrase, “Love family to the fullest!” I could probably sum up Jesus’ life the same way, “Love family to the fullest!”
I wonder what will be said about me at my funeral someday. And I wonder, “How long, O Lord, will it take before the church (that’s us!) realizes time spent together is precious, both with each other and with our Lord?” Come taste and see that the Lord is good, and worship Him with us together. For James gently reminds us, “We are but a mist that appears for a little while, and then vanishes.”
Grace & Peace, Charles.