The Funeral of Peggy Lane

The Lord has been so good to Jill and I. We've met so many people that we've come to love and cherish while serving HIM in various places and capacities. One of those people was Mrs. Peggy Lane. We came to love and cherish her in many ways during our time in Sumter, SC. Though we've been gone since 2005 we've stayed in touch and I've been able to visit her and her husband Tony during his extended illness and eventual death. 

When we arrived in South Carolina in 2000 she took me under her wings, as she had for so many. Jill and I would come to truly love her son, Clinton, who was in our youth group. Clinton would be a big part of our lives (along with so many other youth who would be in and out of our home during that time). Clinton and his wife Ashley were part of our youth group, I performed their wedding. Now Clinton and his brother Josh are without parents. Josh found his Mom in bed on Friday May 31 gone from a heart attack, one week before his High School graduation. I was able to talk with Clinton and he asked if I would drive down and be part of the funeral, it was a difficult conversation as we both shed many tears. 

For the past three days I've been with Clinton, his wife Ashley, his brother Josh, and the family. There is nothing that prepares you for the questions and emotions that people ask as they grieve. As a Pastor there is one thing to do and that is to offer the Gospel as the balm needed for the soul that aches and grieves. Through many hours of talking and pointing to them Christ my prayer is that HE was glorified over these past few days.

The thing I find hard is to grieve myself because my heart aches for Clinton, Ashley, and Josh and wants to minister to them in such a way that HE is uplifted and to see HIM begin the healing process in their souls. So as I sit in my office and all is quiet my heart seeks that very balm of the Gospel to be applied to my heart. With tears I am thankful for HIS graciousness in giving us Mrs. Peggy and Clinton, along with the family. With tears I am thankful to have been able to serve them over our years together and especially over these past few days.