Someone recently sent me a link to an epitaph from earlier this month. While the link to it no longer works (they’re only kept up a week), I think there are likely several lessons to be had:
Dolores Aguilar
1929 – Aug. 7, 2008Dolores Aguilar, born in 1929 in New Mexico, left us on August 7, 2008. She will be met in the afterlife by her husband, Raymond, her son, Paul Jr., and daughter, Ruby.
She is survived by her daughters Marietta, Mitzi, Stella, Beatrice, Virginia and Ramona, and son Billy; grandchildren, Donnelle, Joe, Mitzie, Maria, Mario, Marty, Tynette, Tania, Leta, Alexandria, Tommy, Billy, Mathew, Raymond, Kenny, Javier, Lisa, Ashlie and Michael; great-grandchildren, Brendan, Joseph, Karissa, Jacob, Delaney, Shawn, Cienna, Bailey, Christian, Andre Jr., Andrea, Keith, Saeed, Nujaymah, Salma, Merissa, Emily, Jayci, Isabella, Samantha and Emily. I apologize if I missed anyone.
Dolores had no hobbies, made no contribution to society and rarely shared a kind word or deed in her life. I speak for the majority of her family when I say her presence will not be missed by many, very few tears will be shed and there will be no lamenting over her passing.
Her family will remember Dolores and amongst ourselves we will remember her in our own way, which were mostly sad and troubling times throughout the years. We may have some fond memories of her and perhaps we will think of those times too. But I truly believe at the end of the day ALL of us will really only miss what we never had, a good and kind mother, grandmother and great-grandmother. I hope she is finally at peace with herself. As for the rest of us left behind, I hope this is the beginning of a time of healing and learning to be a family again.
There will be no service, no prayers and no closure for the family she spent a lifetime tearing apart. We cannot come together in the end to see to it that her grandchildren and great-grandchildren can say their goodbyes. So I say here for all of us, GOOD BYE, MOM.
Wow…
As I read this, I wondered what things we do to tear our own families apart – both those by birth and those within the Church. And as I read this, I wondered if Dolores had a “discernment” blog. If so, this would seem all the more fitting. When I get emails asking if I would be happy if the Armchair “Discernmentalist” sites would all just shut down, the answer I give is “no – I just want them to start acting like the person they claim to follow”.
If not, then I’ve not read a more appropriate epitaph…
29 Comments(+Add)
Rick Frueh
As imperfect a person as could be imagined – a follower of Jesus who often stumbled – was sometimes wrong when he thought he was right – could claim nothing but grace
In the end – a sincere goofball who loved Christ
PS – Rick’s presence can be felt on fall Saturdays in South Bend. He will be sitting on top of the famous mosaic!
Chris Lyons
Absolutely and observably imperfect – a follower of Jesus – claimed nothing but grace (how could he otherwise?)
In the end – a sincere goofball who loved Jesus and made Frueh look normal (metaphorically speaking)
PS – He is now being straightened out by the Apostle Paul as to his theology (Rick is assisting Paul with the particulars)
John Hughes
**crickets chirp**
Chris P.
Glad to leave the disingenuous rhetorical garbage of anti-odm blogs behind.
…and weeping in despair at the pummeling of the papists…
Keith Whitfield
I told you I was sick!
Joe Martino
This is not the place for discussion.
Ken Silva
The Lord be praised I’m dead.
Ingrid Schlueter
I will not be posting for awhile.
Richard Abanes
PEOPLE: Where is Richard?
RA: I’m dead.
Chris P.
I’m finally rid of you compromisers.
Zan Lyons
My long discipleship assignment is now over.
Rick Frueh
Thank goodness…Now the rest of us will get a chance to comment!
8^)>
Merry
Keith stole my epitaph.
IGGY: I will NOT engage PB from this point forward!
Merry
The clowns did it.
Richard Abanes: I did not work for Rick Warren.
Evan: I’m still not convinced.
Ken Silva: I was a closet synergist.
Mike Ratcliff: I’ve Prayed About This . . .You’re ALL wrong. Repent!
Richard Abanes
I said it was my last word on the subject
Or the famous gravestone quote ( i forgot who’s)
I said i was ill
Mine would be hmmmmm
Wasted is life trying to figure it out,before he dived in
nc
From a piece of crap to fertilizer.
Andy: #22 made me laugh!!!
Rick: Your last entry echoes the sentiment of a former co-worker–he was an atheist.
“You’re born, you live, you die, and the maggots eat ya.”
Joe C
“My wife made this epitaph, she’s now peeing herself.
Go Red Sox!”
John MacArthur
“Now I finally get to take over the Truth War for God!”
LOL!
I am such a sucker to forgive others all the time…
iggy
Iggy, If I may, “To err is human, to forgive is not just to re-engage.”
Sam Walker:
I told that guy with the scythe and robe to watch where he was going.