Laughing at Death?
Mar, 20, 2013
My grandmother passed away a few months ago. How’s that for a great start to a humor blog? Actually, its perfect. If someone’s a Christian, as my grandma was, death is joyful. If you’re a Christian, your first thought should’ve been “Good for her!” Christian’s should be excited to go. She was. She even said it. “I get to go be with the Lord instead of down here with you…er…youtube. I dont like all those short video clips.”
I knew about death growing up. My uncle was a mortician. He was really into it. His pajama’s were footy PJ’s with toe tags. I was afraid to play out back in his sandbox. I was afraid it was really a crematorium. I didn’t want to build a sandcastle and find a watch!
His funeral home’s motto was “Bring out your dead”. He had a discount on cremation…you know, a fire sale. He wanted to be competitive with other funeral homes…its a stiff compitition. (Stiff! Get it?)
Anyway, he’s fun. Most funeral directors are so depressing! You’re already thinking about death and now you have to talk to Dr. Thundercloud? But if you are a Christian death should be viewed differently.
And my grandmother had that different view. She taught me what this means: “Death, where is thou sting?” If you live right, there is no sting. Its joyful. In fact, we laughed so much planning her funeral. For instance, I want to be cremated. The guy told us cremation cost $2,000. My grandma said, “$2,000! It cost $14 to stay at a state camping site and there’s a fire ring right there!” Some of you may think that’s a bit harsh but our bodies don’t matter after death. I may actually do that. My kids will think its cool. I see Colter saying, “I’m cold! Throw another leg on the fire!”
My biggest laugh came when the guy told my grandma that caskets start at $5,000. She said, “That’s insane. Across the street from the nursing home is a Honda civic for $2,000.” She then turned to me and said, “Let’s buy the car. Then we wont need a casket or a hearse. Turn on KLOVE radio, we wont need to hire a choir. Just drive me right into the hole!”
Don’t get me wrong. I miss her. There is some sadness in losing someone but what’s better than knowing someone ran the great race, finished strong and is now with the God of love and peace? Nothing. So, if you recently lost someone I just want to remind you that there should be joy found amongst the sorrow. And its a great reminder to live our lives boldly so when we go, there is joy for us as well!