"I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but to all who have loved His appearing." (NKJV)
The gathering was as all of the past gatherings have been - CROWDED! (To say that we have a large family is an understatment. The house was always full every Christmas and for many a Thanksgiving Day dinner. Just the grandchildren alone were enough to fill the front yard, porch, and television room when we all came over on summer vacations!) The difference this time was that there were even more people than usually present, or so it seemed. Grandchildren brought spouses and great-grandchildren. Uncles and aunts brought various cousins and their children. Almost everyone alive in the family was present. Mama Sallie would've been proud!
I will always be one of the first people to admit that I don't like funerals or the post-burial get-togethers, but this time was different. It really seemed as if she was right there with us the whole time! Even though the occasion was sad enough, the mood was more of a celebration of life than a mourning of death. There was the occasional tear being wiped away from a crying eye, but, for the most part, the good times were being remembered and retold in a good light. There were smiles and laughs in abundance. It was a far cry from what I had expected, but, then again, all of the memories we had of her were good ones. And as long as we keep our memories of her in our hearts, she will always be with us.
Mama Sallie leaves behind seven children and several grandchildren and great-grandchildren - far too many to mention. But more important than the family she left behind were the gifts she left with her family - the most important of which was herself. She managed to give of herself enough to fill her seven children. When they were filled, she gave of herself enough to fill all of her grandchildren. She even managed to give enough of herself to fill her great-grandchildren, even despite failing health towards the end. And, in the end, when she had given all she had to give to her family, her job on this earth was done. She died January 16, 1999, but she will live forever in our hearts.
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