Two Funerals, No Weddings and One Smile

I’m up early and getting ready. Not to attend church, as I would most Sabbath mornings, but rather to attend the funeral service of a former teacher. Instead of my former teachers returning from summer break and sharing enjoyable stories of their vacation, they were greeted by the news of the loss of a co-worker. The entire school community is shocked, present and past students and faculty alike, as we have never lost a faculty member who currently worked at the school. We still don’t know what happened, but we all have pleasant memories of Valerie and her love for Math and the academics… Tomorrow won’t be much better either, as I will participate in the funeral service for my church sister who died last week.

Two funerals, no weddings and one smile – I can still smile. Smile, because if I have the opportunity to write this message and share it with you. Smile because I have the memory of Valerie and Leanna to reflect on and know that they have lived full lives, even though they seem to have been cut short. The loss of a loved one is never an easy thing and comfort can only be found when we make peace with the situation. We must allow ourselves to grieve and celebrate the life of the one loss, in a way that would make them proud.

“I smile, even though I hurt see I smile,
I know God is working so I smile,
Even though I've been here for a while (what you do?)
I smile, smile..
It's so hard to look up when you've been down.
Sure would hate to see you give up now
You look so much better when you smile, so smile.”

–        “Smile” by Kirk Franklin

The sun is shining and the weather is sweet. Enjoy your Sabbath.