Jul 27th, 2010 by Greg England
Friday night I was trying to stay awake long enough through Butch Cassidy and SomeDunce Kid (Newman and Redford … great movie. “SomeDunce Kid” was the name given to the movie by MAD Magazine years ago. A great publication, though my grandmother swore it was Communist propaganda.) to the scene where they jump off the bluff when the phone rang.
Rancho Springs Medical Center Emergency Room.
I immediately recognized the name of the deceased. Less than two years ago we handled the arrangements for her daughter. Last year, three days before Christmas, we handled the arrangements for her husband. This week we’ll bury the wife and mother.
Three deaths in this family in less than two years.
When we handled the daughter’s funeral, the father was so distraught over the unexpected death of his daughter, Janice and I went out to the house rather than having them come to the mortuary. We spent a couple of hours with them, during which time the father gave Janice some peanut candy that he only gave to “special” people (he had no idea just how special a person Janice is), as well as telling me (after a lengthy discussion) that with some coaching from him I had the potential of making a “good Baptist.”
Jan and I arrived at the ER about 11:30 Friday night and saw the surviving family members together across from the ER entrance. We walked over, gave them a hug and told them how sorry we were to be doing this again, though I didn’t think their mother would last long after the death of her husband.
There was a person present we didn’t know … turned out to be a volunteer with TIPs program (Trauma Intervention Program). We introduced ourselves and she said, “I hear you have some history with this family.” Before I could respond, the son spoke up and said, “The Englands are family to us.”
After a prayer with them, they went home and we took their mother to the funeral home. Later this week we will celebrate her life and lay her body to rest with her husband and daughter. At some point in time when time ceases to exist and history all converges on a single event in the heavens, Jesus will raise them up and give them bodies that don’t have strokes, heart attacks, and disease. Bodies that can never die. Our forever home.
Ministry, even in the context of death, just doesn’t get much better. We’ve touched their lives and they’ve touched ours … and we share a common faith in Jesus Christ. That does make us family, doesn’t it?
Bad Behavior has blocked 314 access attempts in the last 7 days.
Greg England
Blest be the tie that binds our hearts in Christian love!
It is amazing the family that we share. So amazing that I ashamed we limited it for so long! His grace truly is greater than all my sin!
Yes, it makes you family in the very best sense of the word.
This is your mission. It means so much to a family to have people like your family to be there for them and with them during this trying time. You all are filled with compassion. May God continue to bless you as you show His love in your ministry. I am so glad we are family.
I have chill bumps reading this post, Greg. And, it’s in the 90s here today and very humid.
God bless you & Jan in your work there with the mortuary. May He reach many people through you in love.
Dee
Wow! What a blessing
Greg, Don’t ever wonder if you (and Janice) are doing what you are called to do. I’m thinking that preaching, et al. was your preparation for your present ministry. You and your family are so right for this ministry that just anybody can’t (and won’t) do. I’ve told you before that my husband is a local hospice chaplain after 30 + yrs in the pulpit. He is more fulfilled with his calling than ever. But, he is also touching more people with God’s love and is blessing more people than he ever did as a preacher. Oh yes, he had captive audiences in his pulpit preaching, but his heart was always wanting to serve and to touch people in order for them to want to hear more about God. No, he doesn’t preach to his ‘audience’ anymore. He loves them, to death, sometimes..haha..just couldn’t resist. Ok, enough about him. Reading your experiences reminds me so much of his heart. You both finally have the ‘freedom’ to do what you feel you have been called to do! A luxury in today’s world. So many of your constituents have to ‘earn a living’. Yall get to do what you love to do and get paid to do it. Blessings to you and your family. Don’t stop doing the good that you do.