Subscribe To Our Newsletter
Subscribe to our newsletter and receive free educational articles and videos each month.
Main Menu
A Funeral is Better Than a Party
It was only days after our son Chris’ passing in September, 2017 when the Combs family had brought lunch for us. We cried and laughed together reminiscing about Chris, who was very close friends with two of the Combs sons, Aron and Aric. Part way through some emotional discussion, Aric commented, “Doesn’t the Bible say it’s better to go to a funeral than a wedding?” “What? That’s crazy!”, I said.
Well, later that day I looked up Aric’s comment in my Bible app. I found the following verse in chapter 7 of the book of Ecclesiastes, which was written by King Solomon, considered to be the wisest and wealthiest man of his time.
Wisdom for Life
- A good reputation is more valuable than costly perfume.
And the day you die is better than the day you are born. - Better to spend your time at funerals than at parties.
After all, everyone dies – so the living should take this to heart. - Sorrow is better than laughter,
for sadness has a refining influence on us. - A wise person thinks a lot about death,
while a fool thinks only about having a good time.
“Wow”, I thought to myself. How could Solomon suggest it is better to attend a funeral than a party? Well, I believe I had my answer less than 2 weeks later on September 30, 2017. Close to 1100 people attended Chris’ Memorial Service. Rose Mary, Nick, Marie and I spent about 2 hours consoling 100’s of people at the reception after the 90 minute service. It was a very emotional and thought-provoking time of reflection for the people who came to show our family their support AND to grieve themselves, thinking “What if I lost my child; my spouse; my sibling, etc.?”
One year before Chris’ Memorial Service, he and Marie celebrated their wedding. It was a great celebration, a great party with about 150 people in attendance. Chris’ friends from Kenora, Ontario were invited but none made the long trek out to Vancouver. However, 9 of these same friends came to Chris’ funeral. Why? I don’t believe that over 1000 people would have attended Chris and Marie’s wedding festivities if they had been invited, yet, that many came to the funeral.
The introspective comments we received after the funeral, both verbally and in writing, demonstrated the wisdom in Solomon’s verses above. Personally, I can confirm the truth outlined in verse 3: “Sorrow is better than laughter, for sadness has a refining influence on us.” I likely would not be sharing Living in Faith with you if not for the tremendous sadness I am experiencing. I would not have the same amount of empathy for others as I do now. I hate the root cause of how these positive changes in me have come about, but I am thankful and hopeful that this sadness will have a refining influence on me and in turn, hopefully on others.
Subscribe To Our Newsletter
Subscribe to our newsletter and receive free educational articles and videos each month.
A Funeral is Better Than a Party
It was only days after our son Chris’ passing in September, 2017 when the Combs family had brought lunch for us. We cried and laughed together reminiscing about Chris, who was very close friends with two of the Combs sons, Aron and Aric. Part way through some emotional discussion, Aric commented, “Doesn’t the Bible say it’s better to go to a funeral than a wedding?” “What? That’s crazy!”, I said.
Well, later that day I looked up Aric’s comment in my Bible app. I found the following verse in chapter 7 of the book of Ecclesiastes, which was written by King Solomon, considered to be the wisest and wealthiest man of his time.
Wisdom for Life
- A good reputation is more valuable than costly perfume.
And the day you die is better than the day you are born. - Better to spend your time at funerals than at parties.
After all, everyone dies – so the living should take this to heart. - Sorrow is better than laughter,
for sadness has a refining influence on us. - A wise person thinks a lot about death,
while a fool thinks only about having a good time.
“Wow”, I thought to myself. How could Solomon suggest it is better to attend a funeral than a party? Well, I believe I had my answer less than 2 weeks later on September 30, 2017. Close to 1100 people attended Chris’ Memorial Service. Rose Mary, Nick, Marie and I spent about 2 hours consoling 100’s of people at the reception after the 90 minute service. It was a very emotional and thought-provoking time of reflection for the people who came to show our family their support AND to grieve themselves, thinking “What if I lost my child; my spouse; my sibling, etc.?”
One year before Chris’ Memorial Service, he and Marie celebrated their wedding. It was a great celebration, a great party with about 150 people in attendance. Chris’ friends from Kenora, Ontario were invited but none made the long trek out to Vancouver. However, 9 of these same friends came to Chris’ funeral. Why? I don’t believe that over 1000 people would have attended Chris and Marie’s wedding festivities if they had been invited, yet, that many came to the funeral.
The introspective comments we received after the funeral, both verbally and in writing, demonstrated the wisdom in Solomon’s verses above. Personally, I can confirm the truth outlined in verse 3: “Sorrow is better than laughter, for sadness has a refining influence on us.” I likely would not be sharing Living in Faith with you if not for the tremendous sadness I am experiencing. I would not have the same amount of empathy for others as I do now. I hate the root cause of how these positive changes in me have come about, but I am thankful and hopeful that this sadness will have a refining influence on me and in turn, hopefully on others.