Beauty for Ashes (6 Apr)
Posted by RhondaOver the past weekend I attended both a wedding and a funeral. I experienced happiness and sorrow, memories from long ago, renewed sorrow over an event that I thought was a dull ache buried by time and a harsh reality-the wedding and the lost of a beloved Aunt-the funeral.
My Sister-in-Law became a widow in her mid twenties and after being a widow for twenty-six years she remarried on last Saturday. She was married to my brother who passed away twenty-six years ago. At the time of his death they had a 3 year old and a 6 year old. They are now 29 and 32. My family was so happy for her. My Sister-in-law wrote a poem to her new husband and I would like to share a few lines…
As the dead have no life my heart was, but the power of your love by Jehovah’s mercy, has made me live and love again. Something I thought I could never do….
As the words were read she cried; I wondered if the tears would ever stop, hers or mine. Remembering, but yet once again putting the past behind. Afterward we celebrated.
Within hours we buried my Mother’s oldest sibling, my Aunt. My niece gave her tribute to My Aunt, who is her Great Aunt, My niece began by saying, I will miss my Great Aunt because she was a “Great” Aunt. I marveled at the play on words and thought to myself what a “Great” Aunt she was, what a wonderful presence she was in my family and how much we would miss her. As the Pastor gave the eulogy he told of my Aunt and how much her presence would be missed in their church. But he ended by telling us that My Aunt had gone on to Glory. He said, Go ahead Ms. Alsop (my Aunt’s name) talk to Jesus, Go ahead Ms. Alsop sing to Jesus (my Aunt loved to sing and play the piano), Go ahead Ms. Alsop tell him all about it… Our hearts were heavy but after such inspiring words we lifted our heads and celebrated her life. It was an emotional weekend but God proved himself all over again….He gave beauty for ashes!
What does Beauty for Ashes mean to you?
This entry was posted on Sunday, April 5th, 2009 at 7:02 pm and is filed under EC Chatter. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.
Beauty for Ashes that is what Almighty God is all about. I can recall in my own life many times when I felt very discouraged and alone about circumstances and situations in my life and I felt helpless ,sometimes asked myself , could I ever rebound from all that was going on in my life. But the Lord is the lifter of my head and he sustains me. Everyday is not perfect , but because God is so faithful I can say in full assurance he has brought Beauty for Ashes in every situation and circumstance in my life.
April 13th, 2009 at 9:28 amI am certain at some point in time we all have felt that way. We don’t often admit it because it seems as if we are admitting to weakness. But in the midst of our confession and honesty He intervenes. The bible says: His grace is sufficient for us, for His power is made perfect in weakness. Therefore, when we are weak, with his power we are made strong. That is why we are overcomers and we press forward and always “Rebound”.
April 13th, 2009 at 11:34 am