Today is an awkward Thursday. Every now and then I have these but not too often. It is awkward because on a "normal" (whatever that means) Thursday I am engaging in sermon prep…but I am not preaching on Sunday so hence…no sermon prep. But I am engaging in eulogy prep and in a lot of ways that is much tougher.
Tomorrow (Friday) Connie and I head home for the weekend with grandma’s Celebration of New Life service on Saturday. I am looking forward to seeing cousins and aunts and uncles I haven’t seen for a while. I am looking forward to spending a whole weekend at home without rushing back on Saturday for Sunday worship. I am looking forward to relaxing and re-grouping after a difficult, bitter-sweet week (Grandma died Monday and my birthday was Tuesday). It was hard to know what to feel at times and I think people around here did not exactly know how to respond. I got so many birthday/sympathy wishes (something I have never received before in the same breath). But there is one comment that I will always remember. Yesterday (Wednesday) S came into my office to wish me a belated happy birthday and offer her condolences. Then she said, "Grandma had her day on Monday and let you have your day yesterday. What a gift and blessing for you." And I thought that was such a neat comment. One that I will remember and treasure always when Feb. 11 and 12 rolls around. My grandma and I will always have this special connection – celebrating our "special days" back-to-back. Thank you S.
Now I need to return to eulogy prep. I am getting close to finishing, but I am not sure if I can actually and truly finish this. It always seems that I am missing something. But there is one thing that I am not going to miss. I am going to share memories of grandma, but I am also going to make sure I finish my eulogy with the Gospel. Our memories of grandma will always be with us, but there is one thing that will last forever…and that is the gift of eternal life we have through Jesus Christ. What I am basically going to tell the family is to NOT say goodbye to grandma, but rather say, "see you later", because in Christ there are NO "good byes".
So with that I am off to "work". I am not sure if I will have time to blog this weekend or not but we’ll see. My family comes first. Thank you again for your prayers. Take care and God bless.
-edh-
The Heart of a Pastor 
We haven’t had a funeral of a close family member in a long time. But one of my impressions of funerals from the past, when I was still new at that, yet old enough to analyze, is that the post-funeral gathering is an interesting mixture of grief and tears and laughter and remembrances and joy in those remembrances. Of course, funerals are easier when the person has been ready to die and the family has been ready to let go, as much as that is possible.
In their own way, funerals serve as memorable family gatherings.
Our extended family had a funeral for my husband’s aunt yesterday in Austin, Mn. but that was much too far to come and go in one day.
Eric,
I hope that the eulogy went well. The awkward feeling you talked about Thursday doesn’t go away in times like this; maybe we learn to deal with it differently; but it doesn’t go away. Peace to you.