This beautiful old cemetery is just a few miles from the farm, and it is the resting place for both my parents, my nephew, and far too many friends…some old and some SO young…it’s not always easy to understand God’s timing. Our family cremates our loved ones, and we are at peace that they are no longer “there” after they pass. How each of us handles a burial is entirely a personal choice, and there is no right or wrong for how we bury our own.

When my Dad passed away, I was given one job in terms of the arrangements…to pick something special to bury his ashes in. Since my Dad was known to disappear when it was time for a binge, he was lovingly nicknamed “Houdini” – so he made his final journey in a beautiful old suitcase. My Dad passed along his sense of humor to the rest of his tribe, and we are confident that he would have LOVED being placed in that suitcase at the cemetery that was near and dear to his heart…and close to the farm. One last laugh.

When my Mom passed away (surprisingly), I was asked to pick something special to bury her ashes in too. The man in charge of grave digging saw me coming, and he said he couldn’t wait to see what she would be buried in. My Mom loved a good road trip, and she loved to cook. I couldn’t think of anything better to bury her in than a retro 1957 Chevy cookie jar. She didn’t care much for cats, but I’m thinking she wouldn’t mind in this case. Would she have been offended to be buried in a cookie jar? Not on your life! We had lots of laughs before she passed away, as she pondered what kind of vessel we’d be putting her in when the time came. Rest assured, she, too, would have smiled BIG TIME to find that she made her final road trip in a 1957 Chevy instead. One last laugh.

I think about all the people I’ve known that have gone ahead of me when I pass by this cemetery, and I pause to pray for their loved ones EVERY SINGLE TIME. No doubt there is an empty place in the lives and the hearts of those still here, but the memories and the smiles can last forever. They truly are a Gift from God to sustain us until we meet again. My family walks down Memory Lane often- we do a whole lot more smiling and belly laughing than we do shedding tears, that’s for sure.

I’m not callous when it comes to burying our loved ones…don’t misunderstand my humor. We celebrate a life like you’ve never seen before when one of our loved ones passes away…not because we aren’t sad…or because we aren’t serious…or because we disrespect the dead…but because we KNOW what they found when they left this place, and we’re SURE that we’ll be reunited again one day soon. It hurts that they aren’t still here…we MISS them…but they are the ones we no longer need to worry about…they are in Good Hands…and that’s no laughing matter!

If you aren’t ABSOLUTELY sure about what will happen when you die, reach out to me. I’ll paint a picture of Eternity that will blow your mind, and I’ll help you secure your future too. Will I make a few jokes in the process? Maybe….but the message of Christ won’t get lost in a suitcase or a cookie jar, that’s for sure!