A Great Funeral

Yesterday I went a funeral. Two of my church members lost a sister this past Thursday night. She was sick with cancer and this death was expected. When I walked in the church, about 20 minutes before the service was to start, there was standing room only. The place was absolutely packed! I couldn't help but marvel at the amazing testimony of this woman and her family has people where packing into a sanctuary that probably sat 300 people comfortably. As amazing as this was the thing that really blessed me was the service. The hymns being played on the piano where great; I found myself humming along and an older gentlemen standing next to me asked me if I sang in the choir. Two younger pastors lead the service; they read scripture, prayed and shared poems and stories on behalf of the family. The uplifting part about the whole thing was that this service felt more like a worship service than it did a funeral. I've never experienced anything like it.

But shouldn't a funeral for a believer be that way? It should be a time of rejoicing and worship of God because a believer has gone home. I praise God for allowing me the opportunity to be at that funeral service. It has been an encouragement to me ever since I left. I pray my funeral can be something like that to people.