"Grandma Ha Ha"

thanks to AF for the beautiful tulips pic

Tonight is the memorial service for my husband's grandmother. Little "E" has called her "grandma ha ha" since the beginning. Her middle name, Simhah, means "rejoice" so my husband told grandma (who had altzheimers) she could remember it by saying "ha ha ha" after her name. For some reason that stuck. All other names were gone from her memory, but her little great granddaughter's stuck. It was so neat to see Grandma's face perk up when she saw little E. She had no clue who I or my husband (her grandson) were - but you could just see it click when you said "Little E's here to see you."

Now it's the task of explaining to little E just what we are doing tonight and why we won't see "grandma ha ha" anymore. Since she's only 2 and we haven't seen grandma in a few months it really won't be that hard. She only remembers "ha ha" and a big bunny she had in her nursing home room.

But I do not dread this funeral (or memorial service). It's an opportunity for people to hear the gospel one more time. Yes, grandma was old, ill and ready to go. But death awaits us all and at a funeral people have to come to grips with that. I pray that as scripture is presented those in attendance will realize this life is soon to be over - are they ready for the next?

I Corinthians 15:55-59
 "Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; nor does corruption inherit incorruption. Behold, I tell you a mystery: We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed—  in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.  For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.  So when this corruptible has put on incorruption, and this mortal has put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written: 
“Death is swallowed up in victory.”
“O Death, where is your sting?
O Hades, where is your victory?”
 The sting of death is sin, and the strength of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord. "