Yesterday’s Funeral
It was one of the bravest things I’ve ever seen.
John Little, a senior at Norman North High School, had lost his mother Sherri only three days earlier. Sherri died unexpectedly last Monday, a victim, I’m told, of what appears to be a blood clot that found its way to her heart.
The grieving family had to make the necessary arrangements, including plans for the funeral. Difficult decisions had to be made. Who will lead? Who will sing? Who will pray? Who will speak?
While discussing possible eulogies, someone asked Sherri’s husband Brad whether anyone in the family would speak. “No,” Brad said, thinking perhaps that the task would be beyond difficult.
But John said he wanted to speak. He had some things he wanted to say, needed to say. Like most teenagers, he’d never expected his mom would be here one day, gone the next. Like most teenagers, especially teenage males, he probably kept a lot of things inside.
It’s hard for most of us to grasp how tenuous life is. But for teenagers, living in the day to day craziness that is high school, it’s practically impossible. But John knew it now. He felt it. And he wanted to speak.
So on Thursday afternoon, February 19, 2009, before hundreds at his mother’s funeral, John Little, accompanied by his father Brad and his sisters Courtney and Katie, took the stage. And he delivered a beautiful eulogy, telling the heartsick crowd what an outstanding person his mother was and how much he’d loved her.
I can’t lie to you. It was one of the most painful things I’ve ever watched. But it was also one of the bravest and most memorable moments I can recall.
I don’t know John all that well. But I knew his mom. And I know she loved him and was proud of him. Just like we all were yesterday afternoon.
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On yesterday’s funeral. I know his family was very proud of John.