Life Lessons From a Memorial Service.

Yesterday 30th November 2017 I happened to attend a memorial service for a close friend’s uncle that passed away because of a long illness, to be precise cancer.

As usual the mood is always sad for everyone and very few people if any are really present in that moment like I decided to be. We had 5 speeches and then the reverend preaching. I would like to chat about the speeches that stood out for me.

The son’s Speech

He said and I quote,” Mum thank you for looking after Dad, all of you seating hear know that dad was a very principled man and liked all his things in a certain way” but mum has been very patient with him and did exactly that. He is a singer so concluded by singing the Amazing grace hymn for his father  as he fought so had to hold back his tears.

Then the Fathers Union speech 

 

I don’t recall much but after their speech they covered the coffin with a cloth to symbolise that he was a member of the father’s union and sang a song. But all of them where not afraid to be that close to the coffin and even lightly smiled. You could see them crack a joke here and their, that showed in just their body language what a great friend he was to them all.

The Reverend for the day

This gentleman has been involved in almost all church ministries and was very good at keeping time, he is the one that plant those flowers on the left side of the church, was among the people that lobbied to put a fence on the same side of the church, irrespective of how he felt health wise then as a church usher he used to come to the church and take part in cleaning the chairs and floors in preparation for the Sunday services.

But most important of all he was a clean and very smart man that when you meant him ,you saw a person who put some thought in the way he looked before he left home as he was always well put together. Was it the wife’s effort as well to make him look that good, we always wondered to ourselves?!?! He said

In all these speeches, the themes that kept coming up or questions being asked and then answered were:-

ü Was he loved well?

ü Did he love well enough? His God, family, friends?

ü Was he a man of true character?

ü Was he a great friend?

ü Did he have a Personal Brand that he never compromised on?

ü What kind of legacy did he build?

And I finally realized that  at the end of our lives the things we pay less attention too trying to earn our living through life are all that matters and we really should not take them for granted because one day it will just be too late!! #ThoughtsFromTheSoul #TFTS