[CS-FSLUG] Wrong place...right time

[Fred A. Miller]

*THIS  IS CUTE; THE OPENING PARAGRAPH MAKES THE PROPER STATEMENT TO SET 
THE MOOD. AND  WE THINK GOD DOESN'T TALK TO US? *
***AN ABSOLUTE MUST READ** *
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*Consumed by my loss, I didn't notice the hardness of the pew where I  
sat. I was at the funeral of my dearest friend - my mother. She finally 
had lost  her long battle with cancer. The hurt was so intense; I found 
it hard to breathe  at times. Always supportive, Mother clapped loudest 
at my school plays, held box  of tissues while listening to my first 
heartbreak, comforted me at my father's  death, encouraged me in 
college, and prayed for me my entire life. When mother's  illness was 
diagnosed, my sister had a new baby and my brother had recently  married 
his childhood sweetheart, so it fell on me, the 27-year-old middle  
female child without entanglements, to take care of her. I counted it an 
honor.  'What now, Lord?' I asked sitting in church.My life stretched 
out before me as  an empty abyss. My brother sat stoically with his face 
toward the cross while  clutching his wife's hand. My sister sat slumped 
against her husband's shoulder,  his arms around her as she cradled 
their child. All so deeply grieving, no one  noticed I sat alone.My 
place had been with our mother, preparing her meals,  helping her walk, 
taking her to the doctor, seeing to her medication, reading  the Bible 
together. Now she was with the Lord. My work was finished, and I was  
alone. I heard a door open and slam shut at the back of the church. 
Quick  footsteps hurried along the carpeted floor. *
*An exasperated young man  looked around briefly and then sat next to 
me. He folded his hands and placed  them on his lap. His eyes were 
brimming with tears. He began to sniffle. 'I'm  late,' he explained, 
though no explanation was necessary. After several  eulogies, he leaned 
over and commented, 'Why do they keep calling Mary by the  name of 
'Margaret?'' 'Because, that was her name, Margaret. Never Mary, no one  
called her 'Mary,'' I whispered. I wondered why this person couldn't 
have sat on  the other side of the church. He interrupted my grieving 
with his tears and  fidgeting. Who was this stranger anyway? *
*'No, that isn't correct,' he  insisted, as several people glanced over 
at us whispering, 'her name is Mary,  Mary Peters.' 'That isn't who this 
is.' 'Isn't this the Lutheran church?' 'No,  the Lutheran church is 
across the street.' 'Oh.' 'I believe you're at the wrong  funeral, Sir.' 
The solemnness of the occasion mixed with the realization of the  man's 
mistake bubbled up inside me and came out as laughter. I cupped my 
hands  over my face, hoping it would be interpreted as sobs. The 
creaking pew gave me  away. Sharp looks from other mourners only made 
the situation seem more  hilarious. I peeked at the bewildered, 
misguided man seated beside me. He was  laughing too, as he glanced 
around, deciding it was too late for an uneventful  exit. I imagined 
Mother laughing. At the final 'Amen,' we darted out a door and  into the 
parking lot. 'I do believe we'll be the talk of the town,' he smiled.  
He said his name was Rick and since he had missed his aunt's funeral, 
asked me  out for a cup of coffee. *
*That afternoon began a lifelong journey for me  with this man who 
attended the wrong funeral, but was in the right place. A year  after 
our meeting, we were married at a country church where he was the  
assistant pastor. This time we both arrived at the same church, right 
on  time. *
*In my time of sorrow, God gave me laughter. In place of loneliness,  
God gave me love. This past June, we celebrated our twenty-second 
wedding  anniversary.Whenever anyone asks us how we met, Rick tells 
them, 'Her mother and  my Aunt Mary introduced us, and it's truly a 
match made in heaven.' *
*If  you Love God for all the marvelous things he has done for you, send 
this on to  others. *
*REMEMBER, God doesn't make mistakes. He puts us where we are  supposed 
to be. *

-- 
"Gun control is like trying to reduce drunk driving by making it
tougher for sober people to own cars." - Unknown

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