Sweet Sorrow

Frankly, sorrow has never seemed sweet. Parting in such sweet sorrow has always seemed a strange saying. And yet, it has grown on me. For there is a time when parting is sweet though it carries sorrow. When parting means the end of earthly pain in someone's life.........the end of a fight with cancer, the end of fighting to take a breath, the end of not being able to walk or go to the bathroom or feed themselves.
And while it doesn't make it one bit easier for those of us left here, the sweetness lies in the memories. It lies in knowing that we loved dearly and were loved in return. The sweetness does not diminish the sorrow, the grief. As a matter of fact, I feel like it makes it even a deeper sorrow. But the sorrow is balanced by those memories, by the knowledge that we walked closely with another human being until the very end.
Dick Bunger's funeral was today. Many of you don't even know him. I can't claim to know him as some did. But he behaved as if he knew me. He acted as if I was of value. He gave me time. He listened when the world fell apart. At one point he listened to me as I spoke of how unfair life was. And he didn't say that he wasn't. He knew that I just had to express it. And he took me into his little office and let me. Gave me some water. Gave me hugs. Reminded me to love. And that I was loved. That he was there.
Another time I was getting he and Lauretta ready to have a garage sale of which they were giving proceeds to a team of families going to Alaska to minister to the Wilsons. I was nervous. I had to spend a lot of time at their house with my very young five children. I shouldn't have been so nervous. They were both dear. I remember how Dick reached out to Isaiah. Isaiah didn't like hardly anyone at that point. But Dick pursued him. He made him smile. He talked to all of them. He chased them in the yard. He PLAYED. The pastor played. With my kids. And gave them soda.
He was amazing. Always willing to do work. Always willing to hug. Always willing to be available. Always visiting those in the hospital.
So, today is a sweet sorrow day. Knowing that this side of heaven there will be no new memories with Mr. Bunger. Only old ones to remember. Old challenges to finish up.
I can totally see him being a greeter at the gate of heaven for all of those who have known him...the crowd will be immense and he will greet them as if they were expected and waited for. With a sly little smile. And a heart full of love.
Thanks be to God for allowing Dick Bunger to enter into our lives!