Sm— Laughter and Company (Funeral for Ione Smith)

Sm— Laughter and Company (Funeral for Ione Smith)

Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!

5 Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near.

6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.

7 And the peace of God,which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

8 Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. 9 Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.

…. I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. 12 I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want.

13 I can do all this through him who gives me strength.

After being away for a six-month spiritual renewal, Ione questioned my still wearing my wedding band. “I thought that you and your wife broke up and got divorced…”

“I guess people are reading from different history books.”

“Indeed they do, indeed they do.”

Can you imagine a homegrown St. David’s Islander writing the history of Sandys?

I find that the more authentic bios are those written by the individual themselves…

Like “Becoming” by Michelle Obama…

In her new book, Becoming, former first lady Michelle Obama writes about the profound frustration of being misunderstood — of being pegged as an "angry black woman." She writes about the discomfort of being a hyperaccomplished woman only recognized through her connection to a powerful man. She writes about the power in telling one's own story, on one's own terms. (NPR)

Even more so, is your story of your relationship with God—your journey from darkness to light, of overcoming adversity, backsliding, and rebooting.

Don’t get me wrong, I love the Biblical stories, but history is still being written. The best History is like fresh bread

Perhaps, that’s why Ione collected the Obituaries—glimpses into the lives of people you thought you knew, told by people who best knew them…who had the head seat at their kitchen table.

Ione was concerned about others;

She was warmhearted and forgiving—“She modeled forgiveness”;

She took an interest in what you had to say and enjoyed meaning conversations about the issues of the day.

Ione always asked about my wife and about our granddaughter Marlee.

It is amazing how disarmed I was with her, telling her details of my life that I usually kept close to my chest and my own counsel.

I told her that we had crucified our marriage, but that God had shown his resurrection power. Some people stay at the cross—crucifixion is easier for some to wrap their minds around. But the glory of the Christian life is the resurrection power, the uplifting of the Holy Spirit, Light dispelling the Darkness of the Devil’s Domain, the Ascendancy of many sons and many daughters to Christ-likeness.

That is where the true joy is.

That is where the real peace abides eternally.

That is where our victory is established over ever circumstance, even death itself.

Where’s that? Why, with our union with Abba God, through His Son, by the glorious power of the Holy Spirit. Blessed be His Name.

By and by when the morning comes,

All the saints of God are gathered home,

We’ll tell the story how we’ve overcome:

For we’ll understand it better by and by.

Charles Tindley