I just got back from a funeral service for one of our church members. It’s unusual for a funeral to be held on Sunday, but that’s what the family wanted. This is a Fourth of July that this family will always remember above all others. Three days ago the only daughter of this deceased man went to his house to check on him. He was in bad health, and lived alone. His wife passed away a few months ago. The daughter was not able to get her father to come to the door, which was locked. She did not have a key so she called a brother and waited for him to come with a key. They searched the house, but did not find him. An extended search through the back yard ended with a sad, and shocking find. The children’s father had shot himself and was lifeless. Today, two days before the Fourth of July, their father was buried. The children chose to bury their father, who was a U S veteran, in a navy blue suit, white shirt, and red tie. A United States flag was folded and placed inside his coffin. A fourth of July display in color, and in dignity. The three children of this honorable man has something more than sorry to hold onto as the years go by.
On the Fourth of July four years ago I lost a dear, sweet brother. I am still grieving, and on the Independence Day every year, my grief is harder to bear. My spiritual strength continues to carry me on. A mystery, but a proven fact that God will never leave us to bear our burdens alone. My brother had been my strength to hold onto for the past six months of his life. My husband had passed away the January before my brother passed away on July the forth. I went through very hard times, but I always bounced back. I am always looking for some interesting thing to keep me uplifted. So for, so good, but how long will it continue?
I did attend the square dance meeting last night after leaving the Widowed Men and Women’s meeting. It was a nice place to spend two hours just watching the dancers rip and roar. Most of them has been doing this dance regularly for many years. Their aged bodies are not to be taken for granted. The fast, and furious movements they work with their arms, legs, and voices, are anything but hindered by age. I was more than shocked to see the elderly couples having so much fun, and could not be seated more than a few minutes at a time. The caller and his wife had traveled over three hundred miles to call that dance last night. Distance is only a minor matter to all the square dancers. At the end of the dance a meal is served. There is only one draw back for me. I do not believe I could learn this dancing style without much, much time of taking lessons. The square dance I learned many years ago didn’t even seem recognizable at all last night. I am not ruling the possibility out, but I have my doubts. I do know it can get in your blood very quickly. Happy Fourth of July.
God Bless
Myrtle Jean Sharp
No comments:
Post a Comment