A private service for my brother was held in Georgia last Friday with his son, daughter, and her family in attendance. Then his body was flown to Michigan Tuesday night and we had his committal service here this morning. He's been gone from Michigan since 2017 and lost touch with his golfing and euchre buddies, so it was just my son, Steve [minister], my daughter, Lori, and my hubby and me in attendance. He was an Air Force Veteran so a military honor began the service. Rain was forecasted, so I requested a tent at the gravesite and I'm glad I did.
Such a final sight to see, but reality for all of us.
Day is done, gone the sun,
From the lake, from the hill, from the sky.
All is well, safely rest,
God is nigh.
He passed on the same day as our mother [Aug. 17th], 11 years later. Her favorite poem was "The Weaver" and Lori knows it by heart, so it seemed fitting to have it recited at his committal.
I read a very brief poem about brothers and laid a dozen red roses on his coffin.
Steve shared some scriptures and committal thoughts, and then we left so the cemetery workers could lay his body to rest next to his wife who passed in 2014. He was with us for almost 84 years and now just memories of him remain with us. Our paternal grandmother loved the short poem by British missionary C.T. Studd "Only one life, 'twill soon be past, Only what's done for Christ will last." I couldn't help thinking of that poem this morning.
When we left the cemetery we went to have lunch together at a restaurant - that was the sweet part of the day. Today is Lori's birthday, so we got to celebrate with her. She was born at 11:11 a.m. and ironically when she got up to recite 'The Weaver' the time was 11:11 a.m.
~ Happy Birthday, Lori ~
This was such a wonderful tribute and so well planned and honoring of your brother. God Bless you for being a wonderful sister to him! Also, the poem was really lovely!
ReplyDeleteI'm sorry for the loss of your brother, Phyllis. I'm glad he was honored in Georgia and in Michigan.
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