02 Chrismtas Funeral for Charyl Drake
Dear Troy and Friends, God’s Kindness, Good will, and peace be with you this day and always. I can’t even begin to imagine what things must be like for you. You have my deepest condolences. And it’s my prayer that these words will be a source of comfort, strength and hope for you.
The book of Psalms is sometimes referred to as the prayer book of the bible. It contains all sorts of prayers for all sorts of situations. And the 23rd psalm is one of the best. It has proven to be a source of comfort, strength and hope for many people.
“The Lord is my shepherd. I am never in need.” The image of a shepherd is not as common to you and me as it was in the day this was written. But a shepherd is one who cared for his sheep. He was always with them. He would lead them and guide them. When they were in trouble he would rescue them.
Jesus called himself the good shepherd. He knows his sheep. He knows what life is like for us. Each Christmas we celebrate the birth of Jesus. We celebrate God becoming a human being. And living life on this earth. He knows what it is like to be hungry, to lose a loved one, to be angry, and to die.
Jesus said, “I am the good shepherd. I lay down my life for my sheep.” Jesus suffered and died on the cross. But three days latter he rose from the dead. This is Easter. For in the resurrection of Jesus, he destroyed the power of death. He enabled us to have a relationship with God through him. In the death of Jesus there is forgiveness of sins. In the resurrection of Jesus there is life, even in the midst of death.
But God doesn’t just offer to us life after death and then leave us here waiting. He gives us everything we need. It is again a sign of his love for us. He doesn’t always give us everything we want, but certainly what we need. Just as a shepherd will provide food for his sheep so our God gives us what we need in this life. This isn’t just limited to material things either. For in this time God can give you peace, comfort and hope. So that you will not be in need. This is the picture that is mind when we read, “He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside peaceful waters. He renews my soul.”
Verse 4 reads, “Even though I walk through the dark valley of death, because you are with me, I fear no harm.” There was a point in time where I thought this verse was just for those people who were about to die. But that is not true. It has implications for all of us who have ever lost a loved one. This is a time that feels very dark and scary. You may feel all alone and confused and even angry. And that is ok. But know, that in the midst of that you are not alone. There is a God who loves you very much, Troy. And he is here to walk with you through this valley. You will see this as you read his word, or talk with him in prayer. But you will also see it here in this place through his people. It is commonly thought that the church is a building. But that is not true. The church is the people of God. We are a bunch of sheep who know what it is like to walk through the dark valley of death. And so we are here to walk through that valley with you. We are here to help you bear your burden. We are here to grieve with you. To comfort you. To pray with and for you.
“Your rod and your staff give me courage.” The presence of God in our lives enables us to find comfort, strength and hope. God is not driven away by the troubles that we have in this life. Instead he says, “I am right here with you.” As we heard read earlier, “Nothing can ever separate us from God’s love which Christ Jesus our Lord shows us.” You don’t always have to be happy or cheery for God to be near. But we find him in the midst of our sufferings. And he says to us, “I know what that is like. I will be here with so that you don’t have to go through this alone.”
“You prepare a banquet for me while my enemies watch. You anoint my head with oil. My cup overflows.” In spite of the pain and suffering and lost and sadness that we experience in this life. God is still with us and provides for us. He pours out into our lives his love, his kindness, his mercy, his forgiveness. He gives us comfort and strength and peace. He gives us everything that we need for our bodies and this life, because of his great love for us.
“Certainly, goodness and mercy will stay close to me all the days of my life, and I will remain in the Lord’s house for days without end.” This is another way of speaking about the presence of God in our lives. For it is in his presence that we find what we need for this life.
Troy, your mom was a very special lady. She was easy to get along with. She was hard working and reliable. She was caring and was always there to offer help when it was needed. She was a truly a gift to you and to many. We can thank God for the many ways that she touched the lives of many people. The memories of her will bring a smile to your face for the rest of your life.
I am sure that you have a lot of questions and are experiencing all kinds of emotions. And that is normal. It is ok to be sad. It is ok to be angry. It is ok to be confused. It is ok to feel your feelings. It is ok to ask questions. Why did this happen? We don’t know. Many people will tell you many things in answer to this question, but the truth is we don’t know. When we ask God the question why? He responds not with a reason, but with an invitation to know him. Know that he loves you. Know that he cares for you. Know that he will lead you and guide you. Know that he will provide for you.
“God loved the world this way: He gave his only Son so that everyone who believes in him will not die but will have eternal life.” “The Lord is my shepherd.” May you find comfort, strength, and hope in him. Amen.