The Treasure Chest

A week ago Saturday, my family attended the funeral/memorial service for the son of a friend from our church. He tragically died at age 18 while going for an evening run. His testimony is left with us, but it was a difficult funeral for all who were there. It seems, on a human level, that his life was cut short, but for believers, we know that he is at home now and is no longer cumbered down with all the things that 18 year olds are faced with here on earth. I know that he wouldn't trade places now for anything. Yes, in some ways, I am jealous.

Anyway, I looked for a sitter for my girls so that they would not have to attend the funeral. However, just about everyone I know around here was going to the funeral, so I really had no choice but to take them. I decided we should sit in the balcony of our church ... didn't really want them to have to "view" the body. Of course, the church was PACKED. We ended up sitting in full view of the open casket and they couldn't help but see his body. Oh well. So much for sheltering my Lil Princess and Sunshine Girl. Anyway, they handled everything well ... no nightmares ... no really hard questions.

After the family had a chance for one last look at his body, the funeral home workers began to close his casket. My sweet little Princess was sitting on my lap taking it ALL in. I was already fighting the battle of tears, when she sweetly pulled my head down to her and whispered sweetly in my ears, "Mommy, they are closing up the treasure chest." I don't know when the last time I thought "Out of the mouth of babes" before that day. But that was exactly my thought. And, boy, did I cry then.

Yes, that is one way to look at a casket ... a treasure chest. Not wishing to sound morbid, I thought about that (and still do). I know that the real Joseph was not there in that casket, but to those who knew and loved him, we loved the Joseph in bodily form. His mother carried that bodily form within her for 9 months and took care of it for 18 years. I am sure that his father rough-housed with that bodily form. His brothers and sister hugged, pinched, hit, that bodily form. Joseph's bodily form was the shell that housed the real Joseph. It's what we see the pictures of and how we remember Joseph. So in some ways, that "treasure chest" WAS holding a treasure.

I can't imagine losing one of my own children. They are indeed my treasures! To have to see one in her own "treasure chest" would kill me, but for the grace of God. But, I know that Joseph was treasured just as my girls are. And, maybe to a 4 year old little girl, thinking of a casket as a treasure chest isn't as far off as one might initially think.