Today is the 1st anniversary of the accident our church youth experienced on their way home from Winterfest, the accident in which we lost one of our own, Brody. Today I am rejoicing with the families of the kids left behind and I am also rejoicing with Brody. Although there is still grief in my heart that I share with his family, I know that Brody is with Jesus and there's absolutely no better place to be. In the last year our kids have grown by leaps and bounds spiritually and they have bonded like I could never have imagined - because of the life of this one little boy. In that we can, and do, and will rejoice. Last night at our church's lament service I saw teenagers reach out and hug each other and hang on a little longer than they might normally have. Boys, not so comfortable hugging another boy, grabbing each other up. Kids searching each other out so as not to forget anyone. Love pouring out all around us. Thank you God and thank you Brody. We will never forget.
When I first heard we were having a lament service I was not so sure about it. But I knew I needed to be there, if not for myself, for the Bourlands, Bennetts, Copes, Childers, Perkins, Johnstons and Lemmons, and Folwell families. I also wanted to be there for Max and his friends and for the girls I've taught. Max did not want to go. He couldn't sit through the service. He was wishing he was anywhere else. But on the way home, he said he was glad we went. And Geof commented that we need to do this every year. Complete turnarounds from earlier in the day when I suggested we go - from all of us. There is something about lamenting that brings God closer. He knows our hearts and I believe He resides in our emotional releases, both tears and laughter. This makes me want to cry and laugh all the more.
After the lament service we came home and celebrated life! It was Geof's birthday. What a deal. Every year Geof will not only share his birthday with MLK day but also with the special memory of an incredible little boy. And I think Geof is okay with that. After all, he's an incredible big boy. I love him so.
I found a verse yesterday morning in The Message and it was a gift from God and myself to Geof. This year my word is "wonder" and Geof's word is "whoa". I wanted to find him a verse for his word. I found this in Psalm 65:8:
"Far and wide they'll come to a stop (whoa!),
they'll stare in awe, in wonder.
Dawn and dusk take turns
calling, "Come and worship."
Isn't that cool? Dawn and dusk are my two favorite times of the day. They are usually spectacular. They mark beginnings and endings. They are huge. They are God's.
4 comments:
"When you were born you cried and the world rejoiced. Live your life so that when you die you rejoice and the world cries."
~Native American proverb~
I so wanted to get to you and hug you last night.
I'm with Geoff about the every year idea..that was a family, getting together, for a fellowship of hearts.
Sam said,"Mom, when we were driving up to the church I had butterflies, did you?" I new it was his heart. Maybe something scratching on a scar to remind him what life is and what compassion is. Yes, I felt it too.
It was beautiful, precious friend, and we as mothers,as we have wanted so much to comfort our sons have witnessed something very great in the midst of this painful walk..the hand of God.
That's exactly what we've seen, Bev. Missed hugging you too.
There was a time when i could not get out of the book of Lamentations. I think a lament service is a beautiful honoring time. It is sad that most of our culture sees lamenting as something to avoid, instead of a spiritual discipline that opens us to the heart of God. Blessings to you.
Candy I too think this lament service was a beautiful tangible way to blend the sorrow of loss and the purposeful remembering.
I never understood why some cultures seem to wail together until I read the book Tiny Dancer about a burn victim. All the women neighbours came to wail loudly together because this is their cultural way of saying we help to carry your sorry, we participate in your sorrow.
Our culture has stood back and seems to be afraid to help carry sorrow in this visible way. And your lament service was a way of each person carrying the sorrow of Brody's loss.
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