It has been a very busy day with many matters with Mom in relationship to Dad’s death.  I worked diligently for several minutes on grave clean-up, positioning the flowers just right in front of the temporary name plate, stood there and evaluated until all was "just right" in my mind.  As I peered there, I told Jeana, "Is this not amazing, you live for 76 years and all you see to remember you is a name plate."  She remarked immediately, "That is not right, we live with his memory in our hearts."  Mom walked up and I mentioned the same thing and Mom, unknowing what Jeana had said, in essence repeated what she had said but even more strongly.  

What appears on the surface with our eyes is just that . . . a name plate.  However, beyond our eyes with love and spiritual eyes . . . Dad really does live within our hearts and minds with memories.  I knelt down after everyone else had gone to the car and shared with Dad’s body, six feet under, a few things.  I told him I loved him and we will miss him at Christmas . . . and, "Dad, Merry Christmas in heaven."  As I touched that wet clay from the ground where his head and hand would be, my heart was reminded again about faith.  The drive away from the cemetery was different than before for all of us.  I did learn you cannot drive away without faith.  Until He comes again, that body will sleep in Jesus and Dad is alive in heaven today.

From there to lunch in Gonzales, and then back home to a place that sold headstones for gravesites.   Wow, how a few days can change everything.  In July, happiness and love, Dad crying while we drove away.  Weekly, especially on Friday and Saturday evenings, we would talk.  In November, just before Thanksgiving, he died.  From death to casket shopping to headstone shopping.  Life is amazing and it has all been so quick.

So many decisions about the future await us and the only thing I know is what I told Mom and Linda today:  "You have been faithful to God all these years .  .  . He will make His way and provision clear to all of us."  This is what I am trusting God for at this time.  Please pray for those matters for them. 

By noon tomorrow, my day will return to meetings in Northwest Arkansas and much will be before me that is both challenging and invigorating.  Please pray for me to be able to regroup and take care of business.  The one thing I do know today is this: I have taken care of the most important business for this day . . . the needs of my Mom.  God is good and has been so good to us. 

By the way, don’t take today for granted.  A lot could change in a moment.  I lived in the reality of that for the last 24 hours.