As we were entering the sanctuary, the two of the special songs that were being played by Jean Sullivan on the organ, were How Great Thou Art and Amazing Grace. We were able to quite our souls enough to begin to listen to Pastor Mark bring us comforting words from the Bible. Pastor read to us the following scriptures:
Psalm 23:1-6 (ESV) A Psalm of David. The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters. He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake. Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me; in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever.
2 Samuel 12:18-23 (ESV) On the seventh day the child died. And the servants of David were afraid to tell him that the child was dead, for they said, "Behold, while the child was yet alive, we spoke to him, and he did not listen to us. How then can we say to him the child is dead? He may do himself some harm. But when David saw that his servants were whispering together, David understood that the child was dead. And David said to his servants, "Is the child dead? They said, "He is dead. Then David arose from the earth and washed and anointed himself and changed his clothes. And he went into the house of the Lord and worshiped. He then went to his own house. And when he asked, they set food before him, and he ate. Then his servants said to him, "What is this thing that you have done? You fasted and wept for the child while he was alive; but when the child died, you arose and ate food. He said, "While the child was still alive, I fasted and wept, for I said, 'Who knows whether the Lord will be gracious to me, that the child may live?' But now he is dead. Why should I fast? Can I bring him back again? I shall go to him, but he will not return to me."
Philip. 4:13 (ESV)I can do all things through him who strengthens me.
After the scripture,
Pastor Bender prayed
“Author of life and conqueror of death. Give thanks for the gift of life you gave to us in Cyndy.” We pray for your comfort to attend Mark and Anne – their family, family members and relatives and others who have worked with Cyndy and loved her. Gracious God who has given us a Savior in the person of Jesus Christ our Lord. Even as He died for sin and rose from the grave. Thank you for the assurance that those who have and die in Christ shall be raised. Grant us your strength. In Christ Name, Amen.
Cyndy had that very stubborn nature about herself which maybe is probably why she hung onto life as long as she did and now she was ready to be home in Heaven now. She surely enjoyed her life even though she was sick for most of the time yet she lived her life to the fullest, also Cyndy possessed this amazing childlike faith, even today, I wish I had that kind of faith and trust that my heavenly Father is taking care of me.
We were able to stop and hear the assurance that our Cyndy was with God. Pastor Bender told some of the memories that he would always remember, one of those memories that had left a lasting impression was when she has a narrow escape and had almost died just a few years before when we had told her doctors that we should put Cyndy in a crib. Yet the doctor felted with Cyndy being so sick that she would stay in an open youth bed. Oh well, as we the parents were right, Cyndy being herself, before the nurses could get her up stairs to the PCU unit, she was feeling better where she was climbing out of the bed a very special doctor to have to ride in the bed up stairs with her. Mark and I have not let that very special doctor live down having to ride on the stretcher with Cyndy to the unit, even to this day.
We filled the time with all of Cyndy’s favorite hymns: Amazing Grace, How Great Thou Art, Jesus Loves Me, This Is My Father’s World
As we were able to listen quietly, as Dr. Charles Kollar came and knelt down in front of me and told us the meaning of the song “It Is Well With My Soul.” He had told us that one day we would be able to say it is well with my soul when life would slow down, and we are able to come to grips with our loss of Cyndy. I can say as of today that it is well with my soul.
One song that touches me to this day is…
“What a Day That Will Be”
By Jim Hill
As for Cyndy, she has already seen that glorious day of being with Christ, she has already looked in His face, she has looked into his eyes and has notice everything even the most smallest features and special love of Christ. Now as to Mark Sr. and me, we can only look forward to that day because, we know that when we see Christ we will see our beautiful loving daughter again. She would have already been made whole there will be no sorrow or burdens to bare anymore, no parting ever again WHAT A DAY, WHAT A BEAUTIFUL GLORIEST DAY THAT WILL BE!
Pastor Bender shared the Scripture passage where King David lost his child, his precious son. Knowing that a great Biblical figure like David suffered this same kind of loss and grief brought us comfort. Pastor Bender also reminded us that Cyndy was eating at Jesus’ table now, that He had prepared a banquet for her. Cyndy will never be shunned, or looked down upon because of her handicaps anymore because, when she gets her glorified, body there will be no defects anymore. Not only was Cyndy normal, she was special, she is the beloved daughter of a King.
Pastor Bender’s closing prayer also reflected the hope we know is true:
“We give thanks, Father, that you have included children in your covenant family. Thank you for your faithful and kind love. We give thanks that in this world we are aliens and strangers. Moreover, when we depart from here, we go to a place where there is no more crying, where you wipe away our tears, where there is no more sickness or death, only joy in your glorious presence. Comfort those here today, and let our hope be found in you and in your Son Jesus, who is the only way to you, our Father. O Lord, we are all as prodigals, and we pray that you might give us the desire to return home that we might enjoy a life of nearness to you. Amen.”
As the funeral, services had closed for Cyndy now was to take her to her final rest place, which is Rosewood Cemetery in Virginia Beach, Va. Her pallbearers that carried Cyndy to her resting place were Dr. Larry White, her neurologist, Dr. Bobby Garrison, her primary pediatrician, and Dr. Tony Thomas her pediatrician, all three wanted very much to serve as her pallbearers. One other doctor, Dr. Victor Mickunas, who was on duty also wanted to be a pallbearer but couldn’t because he had duty but he did managed to be at the funeral, he stopped us at the back of the church and kissed Cyndy’s casket. It was a rare and unique gift for our family and us to have Cyndy’s doctors, to not only attend her funeral, but also want to be an integral part of the service. Every single one of them wanted to do something for Cyndy since she showed them so much love and humbled them they loved her dearly and truly grieved her passing. The other three pallbearers were Jay Harrison my nephew, Brian Morris Cyndy’s uncle and Eddie Sullivan, an elder in our church, even they had come up to us before the planning of the funeral and asked to be her pallbearers. We were told by the funeral home not to use family members as pallbearers because usually a child’s death has compound effects on the family, when Jay and Brain spoke up and said they wanted to carry Cyndy to her grave, neither Mark nor I was going to say no to them.
Again we would like to thank Dr. Garrison from getting together her other doctors to serve as pallbearers. Dr. Garrison called us New Years day as soon as he found out that Cyndy had gone home and asked that I wait on the pallbearers because some of her doctors would like to serve.
