There was this farewell.
Nine months ago we had one for our own mother and this one was for my sister’s mother in law.

Baba went to Heaven last week and yesterday there was a big
“deal” a “do”
in her honour. It was a send off and people came from far and wide. There was talking and praying and quite a lot of singing. Well, some would call it singing and many would call it
praising. God! Praising God. Worshiping!

Light of the World you stepped down into darkness opened my eyes let me see
Beauty that made this heart adore you
Hope of a life spent with you.

There was also a lot of smiling and hugging and

Moments. You know, Special ones!

My sister asked if I would please take some pictures during the service and afterwards. How’s that for pressure? I sat by myself, close to the front on the aisle and had my phone/camera at the ready. There were quite a number of older folks there and my phone cover is
bright pink. Never one to be terribly self conscious, I just minded my own business and attempted to be discreet. I got a few good ones and hardly needed to use the kleenex in my other hand at all.

This is amazing grace this is unfailing love
That you would take my place that you would bear my cross
You laid down your life that I would be set free
Oh Jesus I sing for all that you’ve done for me
Worthy is the Lamb who was slain
Worthy is the King who conquered the grave
Worthy is the Lamb who was slain
Worthy Worthy Worthy

I used to cry a lot

There were two times I vividly remember when people shared profound notions with me
“You don’t HAVE to cry, you know”
and
“sometimes I sort of feel like crying, but it just takes so much effort. I can’t be bothered”

Say what?
I’m a House and we cry. Way back, we’ve been a family of cryers.

and those tips were sort of life altering for me. Oh I still cry more than some but not quite so often.

Anyway
The sun was beating down and the sky was blue and there we were in the cool church out in the country
praising God and saying a final farewell, to Baba. As it turns out, she was quite a character and even from the platform there were stories of time spent with her and how,
laughing was the theme of most gatherings when she was present.
Quite a legacy, that.

Her son and daughter gave tributes and talked about her last days. I could nod my head when they told how she continually praised Jesus in those last times.
I had the privilege of sitting next to her just before the end and every touch of my hand to hers, each kiss to her brow and sip of water to her lips brought whispers of
“Praise Jesus”
“Thank you Jesus”.

Baba hadn’t always praised Jesus. I told you a bit about that in Lives knit together. Praising didn’t begin until she was a mother and a grandmother and she sure made up for lost time. It’s never too late. Until the final breath. Then it’s too late.

When darkness seems to hide His face I rest on His unchanging grace
In every high and stormy gale my anchor holds within the veil
Christ alone Cornerstone, weak made strong in the Saviour’s Love
Through the storm He is Lord, lord of all.

Just at the end, before we went to eat triangle sandwiches, pickles, squares,  to drink punch and talk about Baba and how we all loved her,  Just before we took ourselves back to the real World to live our lives

Great is thy Faithfulness O God my Father
There is no shadow of turning with Thee
Thou changest not Thy compassions they fail not
As Thou hast been Thou forever wilt be.
Great is Thy faithfulness, great is Thy faithfulness
Morning by morning new mercies I see
All I have needed Thy hand hath provided
Great is Thy faithfulness
Lord unto me
Summer and winter and springtime and harvest
Sun moon and stars in their courses above
join with all nature in manifold witness
To Thy great faithfulness Mercy and love
Pardon for sin and a peace that endureth
Thy own dear presence to cheer and to guide
Strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow
Blessings all mine with ten thousand beside

And
just disregard what I said before, earlier, about managing my crying issues. God’s Faithfulness? Now That is something so moving, so amazing, even the most stalwart non cryers, weep openly. Sing it and weep. Think about it and weep. Tears of joy and thankfulness.

Before Baba went to Heaven, she and her little ones were chatting about the end and she had very clear ideas about what the celebration should look like.
She said
“wouldn’t it be wonderful if someone would come to know Jesus at my funeral?”
Yes Baba, yes it would. The family stopped just shy of an alter call at the service and it was clear
that Baba was gone from here and had been welcomed into her new and forever home, by Jesus himself.

Now
I am well aware of God’s faithfulness. Even during the sad and bad and hard and horrible He’s been awfully good and I know it. So while we sang

Great is Thy faithfulness
Morning by Morning new mercies i see
All I have needed Thy hand hath provided
Great is Thy faithfulness
Lord unto me

I was not even thinking about Baba. I was thinking about Him. Baba had hoped that someone might realize for the first time, that God is faithful and Jesus loves, all.
Maybe someone did, realize that.
I don’t know.
Here’s what I do know.
For me and I wouldn’t be surprised at all to hear, for my fellow celebrants
there was a whole lot of praising going on.
Praising Jesus for
well just praising Him because
because He
Is.
Praising Jesus because of what He’s done, for me.

Baba is gone and her dear ones are missing her already. They would not for one minute wish her back. Her life was full and rich and their lives were richer because of her. She is gone from here but they and I will see her again. We’ll see her when we go to see Jesus.

There’s going to be more of these, farewells.  I hope they are all as full of praise and celebration as this one was.

God is good and He is faithful and we can either believe it or not believe it.  There’s a choice to be had.

Believe it!