The Light Above Mama's Casket

 Some people would view the dazzling rays just above Mama Lucas's casket as merely a reflection of the sun on a windshield in the background as the pall bearers arrived an hour early to take the casket into the church for the funeral. 

That's the earthly explanation.

But when I noticed those rays as I was trying to pick out the best picture, they stood out to me.

Maybe because it was so unintentional; I was just trying to get a good picture of the pallbearers and casket. 

Maybe because it was practically exact center of the picture.

Maybe it was because of what Jonathan's dad had said to us a few days before,

"The light has gone out of my life."

Or maybe it was because of the last line in the obituary, "Helen was the light that lit the Lucas home."

Either way, as I looked and looked at that gem-shaped reflection of light with rainbow colored rays going every which way, it just had me in awe. Had God allowed that special reflection to just happen to be in my photo, just to send, at least to me, a little message?

Perhaps the message that despite Mama being gone, light is still with us?

A special light sent from heaven?

The light of her memories;

her example;

her Savior?

Light fell all around the casket and the flowers that day.

It was such a beautiful sunny day!

Light was there when Jonathan's father looked at the face of his dear one for the last time while dear Brother Donald Lefever played hymns on the organ.

While grandchildren and friends found seats--including Lloyd Bley who traveled all the way from Nebraska. And many others who came in after this picture was taken.

Light shone while family gathered in the vestibule for prayer before the family processional.

Light glimmered while Rev. Kearney opened the service and led singing; Rev. Stearns read the obituary; Bro. Gault read the Scriptures; 

Robert Lefever read the many memories;

and Rev. and Sis. Hunt sang "In the Garden," and Rev. Hunt gave the message.

And once again, light shone above the casket as the sons and grandsons carried out their loved mother and grandma--like the light that God has promised to all those who walk with Him. There is no need to walk in darkness, for we have the Light of life! And even after the light of a mother and grandmother has flickered out, that Light is still with us!