Yesterday I watched news clips of the funeral service of Sharonda Coleman Singleton at Mount Moriah Missionary Baptist Church in North Charleston, South Carolina. It was a beautiful tribute to her life, a time of blessed comfort to her children and family, and a joyful celebration of her life. In the heaviness of these days, in a room full of her extended family, fellow church members, government dignitaries, and a few opportunists, they listened attentively, worshiped sincerely, bowed in unison to pray, and embraced one another. And, they danced...
The New York Times, along with thousands of other newspaper and media outlets across the country wrote about the service. Their article included this sentence...
Yet in the face of profound loss, the funerals Thursday were jubilant, the overflow
crowds swaying, singing and cheering, doing the syncopated “Lowcountry clap.”
In hours of deep mourning they reminded us of something important about life and death. It is something that is often lost as the weight of grief settles over us and as we try to comprehend life without someone important in it. It is truth---
And I heard a voice from heaven saying, “Write this: Blessed are the dead who
die in the Lord from now on.” “Blessed indeed,” says the Spirit, “that they may
rest from their labors, for their deeds follow them!”
Revelation 14:13, ESV
They danced. It wasn't the proverbial happy dance. It was a dance of joy.
And, it made me smile...
Precious in the sigh of the Lord is the death of his saints.
Psalms 116:15