family's. My brother-in-law was asked to do the eulogy for his 13 year
old niece Shannon. She had struggled to beat a malignant brain tumor for
nine months. She lost. Today she was buried.
How do you do this? My brother-in-law and sister have prayed, wept,
supported, fed, held, loved this little girl, her sister, and her Mommy
and Daddy. They were solace and comfort in every way they could but the
one way they couldn't, no one could including marvelous, caring doctors.
Shannon's life. No time for braces or high school or prom. No college,
no adventures post-grad, no falling in love, no wedding, no babies. And
in Shannon's family people get married and stay married. They like each
other, their mates, enough to bridge the times of intense dislike. And
they stick together. Every aunt and uncle, and there are nine of them,
every cousin no matter the age, all came home, all gathered for today. I
know them. There was conversation and hugs and more conversation and more
hugs. This family knows how to do these things and with gusto, with joy,
with enthusiasm, with inclusion. Everyone is welcome in to this family.
I know how they are. I was just at a wedding in Minnesota over Labor Day,
where they were all gathered because one of the other children, my godson,
got married. It was so joyful, the setting, the flowers, the dresses, the
music, the beautiful bride and handsome groom. He couldn't take his eyes
off his bride. Truly, she was a vision. And Shannon was there too and
looked darling in the prettiest dress and so happy to be among family and
people who loved her family so they came too. This was just a few short
months ago.
How do you bury a child? I have always always found great comfort in the
23rd Psalm, especially this part, "Yea though I walk through the valley of
the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for Thou art with me". Do you
think Shannon knew that God was with her? Every step, every breath of the
way? God was, of course, but did she know? When my own mother died almost
two years ago, I saw angels come to take her Home. I had believed that no
one goes alone but that actual sight of them bending over her to gather
her to them was plain miraculous affirmation that what I had believed
sight unseen was absolutely true. So while I want to and have railed at
God, I have at the same time been profoundly reassured that Shannon too
was taken Home by angels, perhaps young ones, like her, God had sent them,
so she would feel welcomed, that she would know right away that she would
have playmates her size and age. And they better have a lot of spirit and
spunk too, because that Shannon surely does. Neither heaven nor earth
could contain that girl's spirit!
So perhaps the best farewell is one of heart-filled faith, faith that she
is indeed Home where we all will go one day. Faith that she has no more
pain at all, that she is whole and free of all illness of any kind. Faith
that she will run and skip and jump in Heaven, bringing smiles to the
faces of even the most serious angels. And God? God will open God's arms
and hold them out to her for the biggest welcome ever and she will nestle
in that lap, God's lap, and smile right back. Let it be so, Lord. Amen.
Judy Bergeson
Diaconal Minister, Salem
UPCOMING EVENTS at SALEM
Lenten Devotional to be written by Salem members; choice of passages in
the Welcome Center; please take one;
Annual Meeting Sun., January 22: lunch at noon, meeting at 12:45;
Women's Retreat Sat., Feb 18 at Grace Place at NIU, 8 till 4ish;
Celebrate Ron & Carla's 36th year in Music Ministry at Salem Feb. 19, 2
till 4;
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