Every Man Preaches

I was working at the KFC in Kilgore, Texas in 1983 when the murders took place.  Our church was in revival at the time.  My pastor and the evangelist went to every funeral with me.  I rode with them to one and we were talking about the services in general.  I said, ‘I would like to preach my own funeral.’  The evangelist replied, ‘Every man preaches his own funeral.’  I have been contemplating that statement this last week. 

For those of you who don’t know, my sister, Anola, passed away very suddenly and very unexpectedly.  She taught school for 19 years.  They roped for years and participated in the kid’s sports.  She was acquainted with a wide range of people.  The out pouring of love and support from those people for the family was phenomenal.

Due to outside circumstances, her funeral was on hold until into the next week.  I figured most of the people who had planned to come wouldn’t be able to because they would be working and it would be too short of a notice to get off.  Wrong.  The place was packed.  It was a comfort to us to see the honor given to Anola.  It brought to mind that statement:  every man preaches his own funeral.

Sixteen years ago my brother, Harold Wayne, also passed away very suddenly and very unexpectedly.  He, too, was a big presence in a lot of lives.  Again the out pouring of love and support from those people for the family was phenomenal.  The place was packed.  It was a comfort to us to see the honor given to Harold Wayne.

Mother was the same way.  People from all over knew Ms. Helen and loved her.  She too was given honor and it comforted us.

So the statement is true.  Every person, with every day they live, preaches their own funeral. 

Definitely something to ponder.