R. I. P.

As I meandered back to my car though the monuments after a graveside service for a friend’s mother I noticed the words carved on the headstones. The words read: devoted wife and mother, loving father, or beloved husband. Some markers just had names and dates. Who were all these people? What did they do while they were here on this planet? What did they leave behind? I couldn’t help but think of my headstone and what I would like to have on it. How about “HE DID WHAT WAS ASKED OF HIM AND NEVER COMPLAINED”. Perhaps the inscription should be more truthful after all it will be carved in stone. Maybe, “HE DID WHAT WAS ASKED OF HIM” that will be enough of a stretch. Maybe I should just stick to the basics, name and date.

You know…a forwarding address would be nice, maybe a zip code with all sevens or just a thumbs up. But then there are those cases the thumb would point the other way. I guess that idea is not going to work. That gets into some really deep theology and it scares me to go there.

Well not to worry! Who’s left behind will have to deal with my tombstone dilemma. I just hope they remember Bambi’s friend Thumper’s advice, “If you can’t say something nice don’t say nothin' at all”.

Dear Jesus help me live the remainder of my life for You and whatever is written on that stone let it be a credit to You.

Amen



11/2/2008