Part 4: Plans

“Let the morning bring me word of your unfailing love for I have put my trust in you.” Psalm 143:8

The next two days were filled with a lot of plans and details as we prepared for Grant’s memorial service that Saturday. It was definitely stressful and we discussed and made decisions that no parent should ever have to, but the desire to plan a beautiful service for Grant kept us going. In the meantime I continued getting floods of emails, Facebook posts, and texts of encouragement and comfort. I wanted to respond to each one, but there just were not enough hours in the day. But once again, those messages shrouded us with comfort to help us carry on. We met with Mike again to share our story and plan the service. We were again so grateful for his guidance and encouragement. He helped us plan everything and set it up through the church. BJ and I both had decided to share. Our college friend, Susan, had shared with me that she had felt led to share at her baby daughter’s funeral because who else could speak on behalf of Amelia? I knew right then that I would want to share at Grant’s service as a way to honor him and allow other people to experience what we had in our short time with him. We sat down at different times and decided that each of us would write whatever came and then share with each other to see what we might need to add or take out. When we each read what we had written it felt like another God- ordained moment. We both read through tears and at the end I realized that BJ had said a lot of what I wanted to, but didn’t know how. And my words were different than his in a completing way. I had thought we might have a lot of the same things, but they seemed to fit together perfectly.

I was a little nervous the day before Grant’s service. I wasn’t sure how I would feel; if it would be another long and painful day, how I would feel grieving in a room full of people, if the service would make me feel even sadder. My sweet friend, Lauren, had graciously offered the day before to bring me over some outfits from her mom’s darling boutique so I could choose one for Grant’s service. I can’t tell you what a gift that was to me. I was blown away by her thoughtfulness to offer me something I hadn’t given much thought to. Yet it was a special event and it was such a gift to have a beautiful dress that was perfect for the occasion. Thank you, Lauren and Zuzu’s Petals!

When Mike had come over the morning after we’d gotten home we told him how we were looking at that day as Day 1, a new morning to start the healing journey. We weren’t sure how we were going to feel each day, but we both found hope in the idea of new mornings and had both found favorite verses to reflect that hope. BJ’s was Psalm 143:8 “Let the morning bring me word of your unfailing love for I have put my trust in you. Show me the way I should go, for to you I entrust my life.” My theme verse has become Lamentations 3:22-23 “Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.” Saturday morning arrived with beautiful sunshine and we both felt surprisingly happier and lighter than we had all week. It was so appropriate to have his service on a sunny morning. And it felt good to share Grant’s life with our room full of family and friends and there was such strength to see everyone there in support of our family. I’ve included separate entries of both BJ’s and my words we shared at the service.

Afterwards my parents’ sweet life group helped host a lunch at my parents’ house. So many of our friends had contributed food and it was a beautiful spread. I was once again humbled by everyone’s generosity.

Grant's Memorial Service

Grant Carl Weil

Welcome

Scripture Reading

Psalm 145

Prayer

Worship in Song

Great is Thy Faithfulness

Reflections and Sharing

Message

God’s Tapestry

Worship in Song

Jesus Loves Me

Benediction