EPITAPH of EXCELLENCE

5/17/11

Eulogies are best delivered by those who can draw from memories. That was very much reflected in yesterday’s funeral for Mommar when our son Buddy, her oldest grandson, was the funeral officiant. Though he had his own memories of her, he tapped into the memories of her 4 adult children. He asked each of them for words or word pictures that best described his/her mama. Though he talked to each separately there was a thread of praiseworthy words that each gave: loving, kind, gentle, quiet, & patient. Words worthy of an epitaph. As they gave funny examples of memories, each came back to descriptors of love and acceptance---even if she was having them go get break a “switch” from the hedge for her to use on their little behinds.

CONVICTION settled in my head and then moved to my heart. How grievous it is to think of one’s own eulogy in which words like harried, befuddled, busy but accomplishing little, or makes a list then loses a list could more easily be listed than patien†, gentle or kind.

Using words from Proverbs 31, Buddy showed how her lifestyle embodied many of the traits of the virtuous woman from scripture---not one who sought the limelight but one who worked more often behind the scenes as “she looked out for her household.”

How about your eulogy? What words would your children or other family members use to describe you?

The funeral was wrapped up as he gave us a vision of our Savior through the life of his grandmother. His Mommar. Pointing out her similar servant spirit to that written of Christ in Philippians 2:3-4. She showed an “attitude of humility valuing others above self, not looking to her own interests but to the interests of the others.”

Therefore her children (and grandchildren) rose & blessed her. (Proverbs 31:28) An Epitaph of Excellence---blessed by her children.