FOODFORTHOUGHT

"For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud
command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call
of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first." 1 Thessalonians 4:16


The tiny chapel was packed with people who were there to pay their
respects. Even the old, squishy sofa in the back, along with the two
funeral home wing back chairs, were filled. Dripping umbrellas were
scattered about the floor. Outside, the clouds kept steadily
weeping. But inside, the glow from the lights was soft, the rose
drapery soothing, and the beautiful flowers looked peaceful.


There were hugs and smiles, and tears. Whispered greetings were
exchanged. A hush fell, and the memorial was underway. Two young
men, in starched white uniforms, marched in silence. With a precise
90-degree turn, they faced forward, stock still, like statues.


Many people from all stages of John's life, shared words of
remembrance. The music and scriptures were comforting. A kind
gentleness pervaded the atmosphere as we came together to celebrate
the life of our friend, neighbor, father, brother, and grandfather.


The service was drawing to a close. A member of the Honor Guard came
forward, precisely turning. Just before he began the flag-folding
ritual, honoring the deceased for serving our country, the other
Guardsman put his trumpet to his lips.


Taps broke into my solitude. Reverence overtook and engulfed me. As
the haunting, melodious strains of Taps rose and fell, my heart went
heavenward, toward my Creator.


At that moment, the picture came to my mind of our friend, now with
the Lord. A vision of a clear, bright morning in heaven, with
Reveill being played.


Taps: a military signal to turn the lights out; Reveille: a bugle
call at sunrise. One here; one there.


That is good news.

PRAYER
"Lord, you satisfy the deepest longings of our hearts and you feed us with the finest of wheat (Ps 81:16). Fill me with gratitude and give me a generous heart that I may freely share with others what you have given to



--~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~
You received this message because you are subscribed to the daily "F O O D F O R T H O U G H T". To subscribe: subscribe@dailyfoodforthought.org or to unsubscribe from this group, send email to DailyFoodForThought-unsubscribe@googlegroups.com

For more options, visit this group at:
http://groups.google.com/group/DailyFoodForThought

DISCLAIMER: FoodForThought shared this message as submitted and do not claim to own any copyright privileges on it. All the messages are believed to be free for circulation or public domain. All messages come in either by email in original form or copied from the internet sites. The work was submitted to us as an item for distribution, and it was posted solely on the basis of its quality. It's a FREE service.

© 2006 FoodForThought
-~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~---