Sep
11
2017
Salt And Light
Posted in Worship 4 Comments
It was the day of the funeral of a special woman.
She was the mother of my dear friend.
The funeral was in Philadelphia.
My husband wanted to take me.
I wanted to be there for my friend.
I knew that I would probably not see her to talk to her or give her a hug.
I just hoped that she would see me.
I just hoped that there would be an unspoken word through a smile or glance.
We arrived a half hour before the service was to begin.
There was a time of visitation first.
I noticed that no family was there.
This would not be the time for that hug.
I actually thought it was appropriate that the family was not there.
It is difficult to greet everyone in your time of sorrow.
I remember.
Words were already said, meals were already made, and hugs were already given.
My husband and I sat off to the side of the sanctuary.
I was close enough to where my friend would be sitting but not too close to be intrusive.
We were told to stand as the family entered.
I noticed that the family was not coming up the center aisle but rather the aisle near our pew.
Lord, let her see me, I prayed, just let her see me.
At that moment, my friend glanced over in my direction.
There were two people in the pew, near the aisle.
God allowed her to see me; that unspoken word through our glance spoke volumes.
The family was seated before the woman we all loved.
The woman I towered over with my height.
The woman who sat on my side porch the last time she visited.
The woman who spoke freely and easily about all sorts of things.
Grannie Lu, she was called.
It was a term of endearment.
It was a title.
It was meant to honor her.
She had a daughter first and then two sons.
Her oldest son is a pastor at the church where her funeral service was held.
Her son spoke, what would formally be called her eulogy.
However, it was so much more.
He was eloquent, funny, and passionate about his mother, the woman we knew.
He did not mince words.
He said that what set her apart was nothing she ever did on her own.
It was Jesus; Grannie Lu did everything for her Lord and Savior.
The church was filled with people.
Family, friends, and members of her church family.
I looked at the choir on two sides of the church; she sang with them for many years.
When the choir began to sing, I was astounded at the sheer volume of their voices.
We will all miss this precious woman of God.
However, the tone in the church that day was one of rejoicing.
We laughed as her son told stories that were familiar.
We smiled at things that glued us together since they happened to us, too.
Her son talked about his mother and the way she rode the bus everywhere.
She talked to people on the bus.
By the end of the bus ride, he said that she would have the person’s email.
She would follow up their conversation with an email that included a joke.
She loved a good joke and a good story.
He said his mom had a joke ministry.
I was the recipient of quite a few of those emails.
It was her way of connecting; Grannie Lu’s arm reached far.
She would send gifts to people, often for no reason.
It would usually be something little to let them know she was thinking of them.
I was the recipient of such a gift many years ago.
She knew that I love to cook so she sent me a pineapple slicer, which I still have in my kitchen.
Her son talked about the amazing way his mom related to people.
She would often sit in the back of church, he said, and notice people who were new.
She would notice people who were not connected and she became that connection.
He explained the significance of her actions.
When you walk into a church for the first time, you may never come back.
It makes a difference if someone notices you, welcomes you, and makes you feel at home.
Those first impressions matter so much.
A person will either stay or go.
Grannie Lu made sure the person stuck around.
Grannie Lu made sure the person knew they had a friend.
She visited people in the hospital.
Shut-ins and college students received the church bulletin so they would feel connected.
Grannie Lu was a light that reflected Jesus to others.
Grannie Lu was salt that seasoned, and stuck to that on which it was sprinkled.
Grannie Lu spent time in God’s Word every day.
Grannie Lu lived out her faith and her love of Jesus; we were all the grateful recipients.
You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled by men. You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven. (Matthew 5:13-16)
Grannie Lu was salt and light.
She shined the light of Jesus everywhere she went.
She seasoned like salt and flavored the world around her for Him.
I will miss her.
As the family left the church, walking behind this precious woman, the choir sang.
This Little Light Of Mine was played and sung with abandon.
The choir clapped and swayed.
I could not sit in the pew beyond the first verse; I clapped and swayed as well.
Soon, I looked around and almost everyone was up on their feet rejoicing.
We were singing the only song we could sing for such a woman.
We clapped her on her way; her earthly shell would be laid to rest…until one day.
We rejoiced with tears but we rejoiced; Grannie Lu is already with the Lord.
It was called a victory procession and that is exactly what it was.
Salt and Light.
Clapping and swaying.
Grannie Lu would have loved it.
Gina, Thank you for sharing the heart, the essence of your dear friend, Lucille, with this very poignant expression honoring her life’s work.
Renee
Renee,
I am so delighted that you got a glimpse of Grannie Lu through my attempt at capturing a life of 93 years lived well for the Lord. I will miss her.
Gina
O Gina, thank you for sharing this. My heart is full, my eyes with tears. May God’s grace and peace be multiplied to you.
Stephen,
God used you greatly. You honored your mom well with your words and your heart. More importantly, you honored our Lord Jesus. You may never truly know the scope of your words. They were Spirit-filled and anointed by God for such a time as this. I will hold you and your family in prayer. JOY in our Lord Jesus.
Gina