Just Finished Writting My Moms Memorial Service

[rsmith6621]

As some of you know my 90 year old Mom passed away 2 days before Christmas. After 2 weeks of holidays and lack of certain people who needed to put their signatures on documents we were finally able to have her request to cremated carried out last Friday.

Last night we had a family meeting with the pastor of her church and after two hours of the 9 of us sharing our memory's and giving her a chronology of her life the pastor turned to me and said why haven't your sibs ask you to officiate? I said what! she said just by my disposition in the room she felt as though I had the proper gifts and strength to officiate a fitting tribute to Mom. The funny thing is my wife asked me why a few days back and I have 2 years of Seminary with an emphasis on Sunday school department leadership.

I humbly told her I only had one time to attend my mothers memorial in which she reminded me I only had one time to officiate it as well. She got consent of my SIBS and assured me that she would assist me if I needed and be at the memorial to have my back.

So this morning after a venti black eye coffee and a nice 2 hour drive with my wife I came home and put my seminary education back in to play for the first time in 10 years. Last night I asked my sibs to email me a colorful paragraph of a memory of Mom along with an statement point of Moms ethic for the eulogy. Two hours ago I emailed the pastor my copy for her opinion with every scripture and I requested her to do the prayers. She emailed me back a bit ago and said DONT CHANGE A THING its perfect in all points.

I have felt since her passing like I am being called to serve as a crisis minister, kinda like a rent a preacher at a funeral home. I have done much of the coordinating for this service. Two weeks ago I was ordained so I can now legally marry couples in my state and have two weddings on the calendar for the spring.

Im nervous as a cat in a house of dogs right now about Saturday.

[Angry Dragon]

1. you will do fine because you will be speaking from your heart

[pacalo]

2. Both the pastor & your wife (who knows you well) recognized that gift in you, &

you're feeling it deep inside yourself. Why not go for it; at least, try doing it to see if it's a good fit. It seems like a good way to give back.

I'm sorry for the loss of your mom.

[applegrove]

3. Sounds like your mom will have the best of goodbyes. Thanks to you.

[deutsey]

4. Thank you for sharing this

Based on what you've said, I think you will provide a great memorial service for your mother...deeply meaningful to your family as well as to yourself.

I'm also intrigued by your discernment of a calling and how you are responding to it. I've wrestled with a calling myself for sometime but have never been able to find the right path for it. Your post shows me that the path may appear in the most unexpected way.