Connections

Yesterday was my Aunt Elda's funeral. She was 83 years old and had been battling cancer. She was never divorced but married 3 times. Her first husband, Abe, was Dad's brother. Funerals are good places to connect. Hearts are soft and open and you often hear things you've never heard before. It's a place of vulnerability and letting others into the places of pain.

I was so encouraged by the testimonies of her 2 sons that had seen the hard things their mom went through but they also saw her strong faith in God. They testified to God's faithfulness in the hard things they had also gone through. Her daughter stayed with her to the final breath she took.

I thoroughly enjoyed talking with aunts and cousins that I have seldom seen over the years. Since Dad married late in life, most of my cousins are a notch older than I. That didn't seem to matter as we visited yesterday. We still have common interests in people and events that have gone before. Someone is always sure to bring up new stories that connect us in deeper ways.

It made me feel closer to Dad and the sweet presence of Jesus. Even though he's been gone 3 1/2 years, the memories linger on.

I was surprised about 2 other non-relative connections I made.

After lunch a lady and her mom came over to talk to me. They had heard about me over the years but we had never met. It seems she and her mom were competing with me and my mom, 49 years ago, for the "1st Baby of the Year" prize at McPherson hospital. Melinda was born December 29, 1969 so I got the prize, arriving January 2nd! (Melinda was also a niece of Elda's but on the other side.)

Then an elderly gentleman came and introduced himself. He told me he was a former roommate of Dad's in Nebraska many years ago! (He is married to Elda's sister.)

I love connecting with family, and others that know my family, but the greatest connection is with Jesus himself and how he draws us all together, family or not! This song that was played at the funeral says it well. Who You Say I Am  What really matters is who He says I am.