This week I've been involved in ministry to my family, especially my wife's Aunt Darla. My heart goes out to her in her loss. I was thankful to be with her on Monday just before they removed the ventilator, and then again during the week in preparation of today's funeral.
As a pastor I get called to do funerals every year, it is one of the parts of my job that is most stereotypical I guess. Pastors marry and bury people, that's part of the gig. But when it's family it is an altogether different experience. Some times I have a casual relationship at best with the people I am serving. I've been blessed that in most cases I've had a personal relationship with those from my church that I've presided for. But having a familial relationship makes things a little tougher, because I'm experiencing grief differently, and that makes it tougher I guess.
This morning I'll conduct the funeral of Uncle Phil. It will be the first funeral that I've conducted for the family, and as we age I guess it will be the first of many. I suppose I feel that I've been given the unique role of comforter and shepherd for the the family at large. I pray the Lord will help me to that end. I would appreciate your prayers as well.
--Ben
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The best hope for family is the David and Bathsheba story. The child is born, becomes ill and dies. While ill David mourns deeply but when the baby dies David straightens up and declares the great hope of the Christian: The child can not come back but I CAN GO TO HIM. (2 Samuel 12:22)
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