I’ve preached two funerals in two Saturdays.  The first one was for my good friend George who lived in Kentucky and the other for our dear sister in Christ Orella here at BRBC.  I admit I’ll miss both of them.

            I find comfort in the fact that they were both Christians and are with the Lord now.  I am also grateful that God was merciful and ended their suffering.  I look forward to seeing them in heaven and enjoying eternity with them.

            As comforting as those truths and thoughts are I’m still sad.  I think of all the times I could have called or visited George or Orella and didn’t take the time to do so.  Or all the times that I did visit or talk with them and it was just shallow conversation or another item on my ministry “to do list”.  I think of all the things I’d like to say and do with friends and family who have passed on and I’m sad:

            I’d like to tell my fried JR who was killed when we were teenagers how much he made me laugh and how much I enjoyed spending the night at his family’s farm.  I’d love to spend one more day “snipe hunting” with him and the rest of our chums. 

            I’d give anything to tell my grandfather and grandmother how much I love them and spend just one more day with them. 

            I’d like to spend some time with my other grandpa and get to know him-something I really never got to do.

            I’d love to go back in time and tell my friend Joe not to be a hero that I was just around the corner when he was shot and killed. 

            If I could, I’d tell my friend Slim who was also shot and killed that he turned out to be a fine officer. 

            If I could, I’d apologize to my friends Dave and Madeline and Meagan for losing touch with them.  They were all killed in an auto accident last year. 

            I’d give anything to see and hold my great-nephew Logan who passed away in the hospital after hanging in there for months. 

            I’d like to hear my friend Freddy’s voice one more time.  He sounded just like Yosemite Sam.  He died two years ago from a heart attack. 

            There are a lot of other folks I cared about who have passed, my aunt Robena, my uncle Freddie, my friends: Jerry, Ewell, Dorothy, Billy Joe-there are just so many.    A friend said to me Monday, “The older I get the more funerals I go to.”  That is certainly proving true for me as well.  

            As Christians we believe that death is the not the final curtain on our lives.  For those who believe in Jesus Christ-there is heaven.  For those who don’t there is hell.  I pray you have made the decision to accept Jesus Christ as your Savior and follow Him as your Lord-I’d rather you go to heaven as opposed to hell. 

            So, love your friends and families, spend as much time with them as you can, and please, make the time “quality time”.  If you care about someone share the gospel with them.  For we know that in heaven we will be reunited with all our loved ones who have gone on before.

            Dialogue with me- If you knew you could only have one more day to spend with someone you loved-what would you say to them?  What would you do with them?