The shoebox of a size 18 foot….

It was the size of a shoe box. 

Something that I almost missed as I walked into the room.

I was walked into the chapel by the funeral director and literally almost missed it.

Surrounded by candles, flowers and a little teddy bear. There she was.

In what looked like a size 18 shoe box.

Baby Grace lay there, lifeless and waiting to be celebrated.

I had the opportunity yesterday to experience something that I, to be honest, hate experiencing. Death. Not only did I experience it, I was asked to do the funeral of a still born child that was abandoned.

The experience as a whole, was very eye opening, short and loving. I never would have thought how small they can make caskets. This was definitely and hopefully the smallest version of a casket I will ever see. The thoughts of a child, a baby, losing life is a heavy burden.

However, I was amazed at the love that this one family had for this baby. Not knowing who this child was or who the family was, they claimed the baby as their own just so the baby would have a proper burial. That is what you call dedicated to children and dedicated to celebrating life. She was surrounded by a whole host of people. A whole host of random people, nurses, friends, children and a massage therapist. I think the amazing thing about this whole experience was not the feeling of my first  funeral but thinking about the impact that this older lady made on the people around her.

It made me think:

What kind of impact am I making on the people around me? 

Throughout the morning, there were hugs, tears, words of comfort and love. God’s love. Not a love that can come from us, but a love that transcends through the life of this woman who showed and demonstrated love like none I have ever seen as she took the burden of this child on her heart and buried her.

All I can hope is that when it comes to the end of my life, I can look around my life and see that I have lived a Godly life, a life that is worthy of his Love and his work. A life that will hopefully impact people in a good way and not a bad way.

That is my hope and prayer for anyone who reads this and who doesn’t. That we live lives unified and as one demonstrate and live a lifestyle of the Love that God has given us.