Today I’m giving thanks for remembrance. My great uncle passed away this week and today I was able to attend his funeral and pay my respects. Many others joined me on a Friday afternoon to pay their own respects to a wonderful and giving man. This is not an opportunity afforded to people in all parts of the world.
Mankind takes death pretty seriously. Various cultures view dying, death, and the afterlife in vastly different ways. Some believe that the spirits of ancestors watch over and protect them. Some believe your actions in this lifetime are reflected in your position in the next. Still others believe that life on this earth is temporary, but that through obedience (or forgiveness) our souls can transcend the earthly plane and live eternally.
The way that we mourn varies greatly as well. Many people are exceedingly sad for their loss. Personally, I am only sad when I know that the person is completely unsure of what is happening to them after death. Otherwise, I see cause for celebration. A freedom from pain and suffering. A culmination of all that one has accomplished here on earth. I don’t believe that we mourn for the dead; we mourn for ourselves.
My great-uncle was a firefighter and looked death in the eye over and over again. At his funeral, as is tradition, the bagpiper played Amazing Grace to close out the ceremony. It was a beautiful tribute to a great man.
How do you remember those who you have lost? Leave me a comment and make sure you follow along and see what else I’m giving thanks for.
[…] I’m giving thanks for new life. Yesterday, I attended my uncle’s funeral. Afterwards, I headed to my sister-in-law’s house to help with her baby shower. To […]