Memorial for Mamie Katherine Adams

When we got to the church we were so amazed by all the people who came to be there on such a sad day. The church was packed and people were even out in front that couldn't get in. I couldn't believe it when people told me that. Reverend Andrea's words were so powerful and touching. She spoke with such emotion.  Reverend Andrea was there the day that Mamie was born.  She blessed Mamie that day.  Reverend Andrea, Rev. Harriett and Rev. Lindsey visited us often during our 2 and 1/2 days in the hospital. Taylor and I along with our families felt comfort having them around. Here are Reverend Andrea's words from the Memorial Service. Memorial for Mamie Katherine Adams Grief is not a strong enough word. Loss does not begin to express the depth of the pain we feel as we mourn the death of Mamie Katherine Adams, daughter of Sarah and Taylor Adams. We are people of sorrow acquainted with grief gathered in this very room to hold one another up in love …knowing that there are no words. Sarah and Taylor none of us can understand completely what you feel. We are here to share in your loss because we love you. We pray that you are drawn closer to each other as you bear each others sorrow, and as you love each other into each new day. Our expected joy has been turned into sorrow. Why? How could God allow this to happen? It is not right. It is not fair. It is ok to be angry. It is ok to be angry with God. God loves us enough to handle it. God is big enough to handle our anger. It is ok to ask questions. There is more honest faith in questioning than in silent suffering. God does not want us to hold our questions in, our anger in, our brokenness, our grief or our tears inside. There is a Jewish tradition of the tear bottle… Tear Bottles have been a part of our world's history since before Christ's time. It has been said that our ancestors have used the small glass vessels to collect their tears, as a means for mourning and sorrow. David the shepherd boy who faced the giant Goliath and the King who faced the giant of grief when he lost his first child, wrote in Psalm 56:8 “gather my tears into your bottle O Lord”. These words remind us that God keeps a record of all human pain and suffering. God understands each tear that is shed and our tears never fall alone God is crying with us. We as parents wrap our lives around the lives of our children. What they feel we feel. What they suffer we suffer. God is this way with each of us. God is our heavenly parent and grieves with us in our overwhelming sorrow. Mamie’s death was not God’s will. Jesus said in Matthew 18:14 “It is not the will of your Father that one of these little ones should perish.” There is no adequate explanation. Time does not heal all wounds but God does bring healing in time. The God who knit Mamie together in Sarah’s womb is the same God who grieves with us in her death. God will not allow death and grief to have the last word. God’s love through the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ has given us this promise, death has been defeated. Love will have the last the word. The hope of resurrection is that there will be no more tears, no more death…only life everlasting.