It was the day of my mother's funeral. It had only been a day since I had gotten out of my bed and decided to actually move on with my life and now I had to do this. Nicole had taken care of everything because I had shut down emotionally and physically. I knew she was still angry with me. We hadn't talked since she blew up at me at the morgue.

"This is all your fault, Crystal! You were supposed to take care of her! She killed herself because of you! I told you she was getting sick again! I told you! But you didn't help her! You let her spiral back into her depression and you let her kill herself! It's your fault she's dead!"

"Crystal, are you ok?" Bridget's voice brought me back from the wretched memory. I looked her over in her simple black dress. Her hair was up in a pony tail and her makeup was flawless as usual. I gave her a small smile.

"Yeah, I'm going to be." I replied and then looked over the scene before me. We were at the cemetery waiting for the pastor to speak and then my mother's casket to be lowered. I looked over to Nicole. She was sobbing into her hands. She'd been crying since the funeral started and it made my heart ache to know she wouldn't let me comfort her. I didn't know if she would ever speak to me again. That almost hurt worse than my mother's death. I felt Bailey's hand reach for mine to reassure me. I squeezed it to let her know I appreciated it.

After a moment, the pastor walked to the front, readying himself to speak. He was in a black tux and his black hair was slicked back. His brown eyes stared right at me, penetrating my soul and giving me a soothing look. Then he looked at Nicole with the same look. After that, he looked up at the rest of the people in the chairs behind us and started to speak, giving the tiniest bit of tranquility to our grieving hearts.

"We have come here this day for a number of reasons...

First, we are here today to pay our tribute and our respect to a woman of God, Elizabeth Mae Hatfield.

We are also here today to show our love and support for Elizabeth's very precious family. Not only have we sensed our own personal feelings of loss over Elizabeth's passing, but our hearts have been drawn toward them, and will continue to be with them.

Finally, we are here today to seek and to receive comfort. We would be less than honest if we said that our hearts have not ached over this situation. We are not too proud to acknowledge that we have come here today trusting that God would minister to our hearts, and give us strength as we continue in our walk with Him.

It is our human nature to want to understand everything now, but TRUST requires that we lean and rely heavily on God even when things seem unclear.

Proverbs 3:5 says this,

'Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.'

I'm not going to tell you not to cry or not to experience emotions. Emotions are God-given. They are a part of who we are.

Jesus Himself said, "Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted."

Tears are the safety-valve that God built into us to help us at times like these. It's OK to cry.

I'm not going to tell you today that you'll never have questions come to you. But I will tell you this: There is something wonderful that you can focus on. Choose to focus on the things you know... things the Word of God declares.

We declare with Job... Job 19:25

'For I know that my redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth.'

We declare with Jesus... John 14:2-3

'In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.'

We declare with Paul...2 Corinthians 5:6-8

'We are always confident, knowing that, while we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord: (For we walk by faith, not by sight:) We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord.'

We are going to move beyond the tears. We are going to move beyond our questions... because the Holy Spirit is here today to comfort and strengthen each and every heart! And he will continue to be with us as we continue to live for God.

An individual made the following statement: "The measure of a life is not in its duration but in its donation."

When we think of Elizabeth's donation... what she contributed... what she invested... we have much to be thankful for!

Consider the investments of godliness and nurturing that Elizabeth made with into the lives of her children.

Consider the investments of the Word of God that Elizabeth made into the lives of so many people... not only members of this church, but all of the people that she poured her life into.

Let me say again that "The measure of a life is not in its duration but in its donation!"

In a few moments, when all the words have been spoken, we will stand at this graveside and commit the body of our friend, Elizabeth to the keeping of this earth until the coming of the Lord, and we will commit her soul into the loving hands of the God she served... bringing an end to the final chapter of her earthly life.

But it will not be the end of her story, because the memory of her life and the influence of her life remains.

Because Elizabeth committed her life to God and the work of God, she was energized by a power greater than this natural world understands.

We all knew Elizabeth as a great friend and a wonderful mother.

Her work on this earth was of eternal value, and because of that, she will have eternal reward.

This Memorial Service is not really for Elizabeth. She is in Heaven. This is a time for us who are yet on this earth.

She's reached the ultimate destination of the universe.

We say that she has "departed," but God says that she has "arrived."

God sees things from such a different perspective than we do. God never sees His children die. He simply sees them coming home.

The real questions we face today don't really pertain to Elizabeth.

The real questions today have to do with us.

What are we going to do?

What are we going to focus on?

Contrary to what we would have liked, our friend has taken an earlier flight, but we still share a common destination.

Her race ended earlier than we anticipated, but we still have our race to run, and Elizabeth would not have it any other way than that we give our very best for the Kingdom of God.

I will deeply miss my friend, Elizabeth. But I rejoice this day that she is with my Savior, Jesus. And in honor of my friend, I say...

Ring out the welcome.

Swing wide the gates.

Choirs of angels stand and sing, "Amazing Grace."

There's one more soldier of the King.

Whose trials are past.

Ring out the welcome loud and clear –

She's home at last."

He then stepped to the side and set a single rose on her casket. He motioned for Nicole and I to do the same. As I walked up to my mother's casket and set the rose on it, I felt the tears start to fall. I walked slowly to the side of the casket and stood beside the pastor and after Nicole set her rose down, she also stood beside me. She was still balling and I wanted so badly to out to her and hold her hand in mine.

Then, like she had read my mind, I felt her warm hand slip into mine, grasping for comfort. I held it tightly, giving her all of the strength that I had. As everyone came up to us and gave us their condolences, I simply nodded and said thank you while Nicole continued to sob next to me.

"I'm sorry for your loss." The familiar voice pulled my attention away from my sister. I looked up into the mismatched eyes that had brought me out of my spiraling depression. I stared at him for a moment Witt my mouth slightly agape. I was at a loss for words.

"Goldi." He whispered, bringing me out of my trance.

"Thank you." I whispered back. I was awestruck by his presence. He was wearing a black suit and a black button up. He looked extremely handsome, making me almost swoon. I realized he was the last one from the long line and that Nicole had already left my side and sat down. Declan held his hand out to me and I took it hesitantly. He led me back to the first row and sat down next to me, with Bridget on his other side and Bailey on mine. I glanced down at our still interlocked hands. Why was his touch so comforting? It made me feel like everything was going to be alright. I looked up and watched as my mother's casket was lowered into the ground. I tightened my grip on his hand as the casket made a soft thump sound when it had descended completely. Then the pastor motioned for people to start leaving. After a while everyone had left, leaving Declan and I sitting alone in the cemetery.

"Why did you come?" I asked quietly, still staring at where my mother's casket had been.

"Bridget told me to..." He replied. I looked over at him to see that he was looking down at our interlaced fingers. I looked down at them too. My hand looked so small compared to his. It was comical really, the way my fingers barely peaked through his.

"I'm sorry." I squeaked, feeling the tears brim my eyes once more. This man always brought out my feelings. I hated it. But I also loved it.

"It's alright, Goldi. I can relate to how you're feeling. I was in a similar position at one time too." He explained looking up at me, bringing my eyes to lock with his. They were glistening with tears also and I realized he was about to cry. I reached my free hand up to his face and touch his cheek gently as a tear fell from his eye.

"How did your mother pass?" I asked slowly.

"Cancer...She fought it for years before it finally took her from us." He said softly. I felt my heart clench at his words. I wanted to take all of his pain and suffering away and for the first time, I understood what he meant when he said he wanted to protect me. I wanted to protect him too. I wanted to take away all of his hardships, make him forget and replace them with happy memories...with me.

"I'm so sorry, Declan." I whispered. He turned to me and gave me a sad smile.

"Don't be. She was an amazing mom. I was lucky to have her for as long as I did." He told me and then looked down at our hands.

"Tell me about her." I said quietly.

"She was always humming to herself. Whether she was cooking, cleaning, or reading, she was always humming some tune. Her favorite song was Be Happy by Bob Marley." He started. We sat there in that cemetery for an hour, talking about our moms and what they were like. At one point, I remember looking over at him and watching him as he talked.

He always shined so brightly.

I wanted to shine like that someday too.