GUWL

Yesterday we went to the funeral of our friend, Barrett. It was a tearful goodbye. I must admit that I can't understand this one. Most of the funerals I have been to have been of ones who have lived a long, good life. Barrett's life was still in the beginning. I was about 5 rows back from the family and I watched his little girl, Ruby, the whole time. She looks so much like her daddy, especially in her eyes. She is about Eli's age--20 months or so. I watched and prayed that the Lord would calm her for her mommy. God answered in a different way. About half-way through she got down off of her mommy's lap and began to play with the flowers in front of her--just lightly touching each one so sweetly. And then, she began to twirl. She giggled and twirled around and around in front of her family. It was at that moment that I got a picture of Barrett with His Lord, like this child, twirling in delight and in freedom, and I longed for the day we dance with him. There are 5 Hebrew words for praise in the bible. "Guwl" is one of them. "Guwl" means to "spin around under the influence of strong emotion; to spin like a top; to rejoice and be glad." It is most often translated "rejoice." Amazing. Ruby was rejoicing! I don't understand why this happened to Barrett. I don't understand a lot of things. But I rest in the knowledge of what the Lord knows that I don't. I can't wait to see the bigger picture, to see what Barrett Lewis is seeing this very day. Towards the end of the funeral, Ruby walked toward the aisle and grinned at all of us, and somehow I felt a great deal of peace, as if the Lord was saying to all of us, "The Lord your God is with you. HE is mighty to save. HE will quiet you with His love, He will REJOICE over you with singing." Amen.