I Went to a Funeral, Lord it Made Me Happy ...

Lyle Lovett is a big hit around our house, though most people we ask have either never heard of him or have no taste for his music.  Well, every time there is a family funeral, Neal and I sing this song, or a part of it ...

I went to a funeral.  Lord it made me happy seeing all those people I ain't seen since the last time somebody died ...

Neal comes from a big, healthy family, on both sides.  Campbell, Hamilton, Steele, Teeple.  It was quite a jump for me, having only one brother and 95% of my relatives in Europe, to enter in to family reunions and "cousins, cousins everywhere"(and this is still somewhat of a shock every time we leave the house ... we always see a cousin or an aunt/uncle no matter where we go).  I absolutely love it.  I always wanted a big family and I also wish we saw these people on a regular basis, but life is busy and not everyone shares the same interests and, you catch my drift.

Yesterday, we had the priviledge, to steal Carl Teeple's words, of celebrating the life and death of a great man, Lorne Teeple.  He passed away on Monday, at 11pm, and left behind a wife and six, grown, godly boys.  What a legacy.  The 'boys sang in three part harmony ~ a couple of good old gospel songs, just like their Daddy used to, for over six decades.  The whole generation, from wife down to great-grandchild, also sang over all of us ... the Doxology ... before the meal was served.  What a celebration and what a tribute not only to Lorne, but also to the Father most everyone in that room shares the saving knowledge of.



I could not believe the light spirit I walked away with.  I felt blessed, encouraged, and charged up to go another round.  We may not get together much, but when we do, and because we did ...

Lord it made me happy, seeing all those people I ain't seen since the last time somebody died ...