3 Weddings and a Funeral

Recently, my church in Melaka has been all abuzz in anticipation of a hat-trick of weddings for 2012 in June, September and November. The wedding in June is my sister's whereas I'm well acquainted with the other two couples too. It's hard not to be, when you're in Melaka Gospel Chapel :)

However, there was one chain of events that we had to prepare and help out in first, which were Uncle Beng Tee's funeral and wake services. 

Taken and cropped from Uncle Rodney's Facebook

Unlike the weddings, these were not checked into the calendar a year in advance, but in our hearts, we knew this day would come sooner rather than later. When I think about it, I reckon its scale was no less grand than that of any of the upcoming weddings. In fact, even though the wedding dates are yet to arrive, I dare say the beauty of Uncle's farewell would be hard to match. 

Due to the fact that the early years of my life coincided with the twilight of his, I never really got to know Uncle Beng well in any way. That being said, this did not stop him from having made an imprint on my life. It's a long story for another day, but he probably didn't realize that certain things he did and words he said has firmly planted in me the importance of reverence for God. 

I'm glad that I had the chance to help out in the wake services and the funeral, in whatever little ways I could. It meant that I was there for every minute and I got to listen to everything.

I'm grateful that I managed to hear so many stories about him. I'm a storyteller myself, and for what it's worth, I can preserve such stories of faithfulness to encourage future generations. 

It makes sense that the passing of our Elder would give the whole church family one big push in the right direction. Faithfulness, long-suffering and persevering servanthood!

May all who come behind us find us faithful, too.