Dawn Ward
A few years ago, after my mother's passing, we held a Celebration of Life service for her. As you might
expect, it was a time of laughter and of tears. Because Mom passed away just before Christmas, we decided to wait until after the first of the year to hold her memorial.
The weeks prior were filled with planning and preparation. Mom wanted a small service. No fuss. Right. There is no way to honor the person
who brought us into this world without making a fuss. With a reasonable budget in mind, we ordered flowers, secured the church, contacted the minister, set a menu, and planned the order of service.
My brother, a musician, painstakingly set to the task of inviting his brass band to play Mom's favorite hymns, as
well as leading his church worship team in some of her, and our, most treasured praise songs. My sister flew in days before the event to take care of last-minute details. She designed creations with her own personal touch—ones I know Mom would have loved. My sister-in-law planned a simple, yet warm, reception that Mom would have appreciated, making our guests feel comfortable and welcomed.
We were ready to go. We had planned and prepared. We had done all we could do to make the day as special as possible. We prayed that the day would honor our mother, this woman who meant everything to us.........
