This is my little man and his best bud in the world. Today they attended the funeral of their classmate, Juan. Their friend passed away last week in a tragic accident where he broke his neck rough housing with friends and a rope. The boys really wanted to go to the funeral so G's Mom and I took them. We left the other kids at home.
The family has little money and paying to bury a child was not a possibility. The school took up collections and the PTO matched everything they received. The family was able to have a nice service for their beloved son.
I wasn't expecting the service to be entirely in spanish. I had no idea what was being said when it wasn't being translated. There was also a lot more singing than I'm used to. It was like being at a christian rock concert with drums, electric guitar and keyboard. There were 8 songs sung in the hour service. It was nice that they put the word up on a screen so I could read the spanish words that they were singing along with the translation below. I felt like by the end, if I did that a few more times I could have a pretty could handle on the language.
There were a couple of other moments that I am just not used to, being a Mormon. I grew up Lutheran but we didn't do things revival style like this church did. I was never quite sure what to do as to not offend but not participate in some of the things. The pastor was kind of forceful about everyone participating. Especially when he wanted people to come up to the front that wanted to stop sinning and commit their lives to Jesus. I appreciated what he was doing, just didn't want to participate. It didn't help that I was in his line of sight and it felt like he kept looking at me. For those who know me and know my propensity to have a "dirty look" on my face. I promise you that there wasn't one. Only love, kindness and sadness. In fact my husband tells me that he thinks I have been cured of that affliction....at least most of the time.....It's something that I have really been working on because I never knew that I was giving them.
Here's what I found hope and joy in.
Every single teacher that Juan had was there. In fact one that I mentioned in my previous post was there and her team teacher from last year. We cried and held each other. I love those ladies. Me wanting them to dress more professionally doesn't change that. The principal, who isn't our principal this year, even came. The music teacher, the front office receptionist, every adult that came in contact with him at school came. There is a beauty and sacredness in mourning with those who mourn. It is also a requirement for being a follower of Christ.
Mosiah
8 And it came to pass that he said unto them: Behold, here are the waters of Mormon (for thus were they called) and now, as ye are adesirous to come into the bfold of God, and to be called his people, and are willing to bear one another’s burdens, that they may be light;
9 Yea, and are awilling to mourn with those that bmourn; yea, and comfort those that stand in need of comfort, and to stand ascwitnesses of God at all times and in all things, and in all places that ye may be in, even until death, that ye may be redeemed of God, and be numbered with those of the dfirst resurrection, that ye may have eternal life—
I was also impressed by the message of the Pastor. It was all about having courage. Courage to change your life, to follow Jesus, to be a good example. He wanted everyone to know where Juan was. He was with Jesus and we could only see him again if we were willing to take responsibility for ourselves and our sins. He talked a lot about personal responsibility and how right now was the time to prepare yourselves for Heaven.
Even though we belong to different religions we can share common beliefs and build on them and unite in them and love each other....even when we have a language barrier. We also believe that now is the time to prepare yourselves to meet God.
Alma
32 For behold, this alife is the time for men to bprepare to meet God; yea, behold the day of cthis life is the day for men to perform their dlabors.
33 And now, as I said unto you before, as ye have had so manyawitnesses, therefore, I beseech of you that ye do notbprocrastinate the day of your crepentance until the end; for after this day of life, which is given us to prepare for eternity, behold, if we do not improve our time while in this life, then cometh thednight of edarkness wherein there can be no labor performed.
34 Ye cannot say, when ye are brought to that awful acrisis, that I will repent, that I will return to my God. Nay, ye cannot say this; for that same spirit which doth bpossess your bodies at the time that ye go out of this life, that same spirit will have power to possess your body in that eternal world.
If we stop focusing on what we don't agree on and start focusing on what we have in common, we can accomplish a mighty change of heart for our entire country. A return to values, to family, to freedom, to God. We can do this together. ALL of God's children.
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