On Saturday, I went to a funeral. It was the first time in my life that I have gone to a funeral of someone who was close to my age. Someone who I knew. My Godbrother lost his fight with ALS last week and his homegoing service was on Saturday. Anyone who knows me well, knows that I haven’t been to a funeral( with the exception of 1) in over 20 years. I don’t do funerals. But he was my parents’ first godchild. His parents basically adopted me as a godchild when they became godparents of my younger brother. They are my parents best friends. There was no way NOT to go.
Funerals have a way of changing your priorities in life. They have a way of showing you what’s important. And I realized that all the little things for the past month or so that have been bothering me or anoying me, really don’t mean a thing. I’ve got my health. I’ve got my family. I’ve got life. I’ve got love.
Shouldn’t that be enough?
The one good thing about funerals is that they bring people together. I saw people who I haven’t seen since I was a child, and people I only talk to on instgram and Facebook.
And I finally got to take a selfie with my parents.
Hillarious I tell you. The first one, Daddy didn’t smile.
Mommy said “Smile Kenneth. Or say Cheese.”
He gave her a look and said “Shit.”
It was a small thing. But it made us laugh. Including him.
Laughter is the best medicine.
Like I said in the beginning of this post, it’s about priorities.
I’ve decided that laughter is one of them.
Quiana
Wednesday 19th of February 2014
I'm so sorry LaShawn. I feel you on how funerals bring people together. When my grandmother passed two years ago I almost felt guilty for being so happy to see family I hadn't seen in a long time all in one place.
Joi
Monday 17th of February 2014
Funerals always put things in perspective for me as well. I'm kinda opposite, I try to go as much as possible to support people when I can to help celebrate the life of a loved women & their going home to Jesus.
I'm sorry for your loss but glad you got a chuckle out of pops! He looks in good spirits in the pictures.
J.L. Williams
Monday 17th of February 2014
You and your family have my condolences for your loss. You are so right about appreciating the simple things in life. Although not always easy...living in a spirit of thankfulness is my constant goal. The selfie with the 'parentals' is too cute!!
KalleyC
Monday 17th of February 2014
Yes! I agree with you 100%. Funerals will make you question priorities and help you let go the small stuff. It feels like I am always going to one in my family, since the other generation are so close in age, but every time I go (since I became the unofficial ambassador for my family) it helped me to appreciate the relationships that I do have. A great reminder to never take anything for granted.
Cam
Monday 17th of February 2014
So sorry for your family's loss. It's crazy how it sometimes takes something so major to is really take stock of our priorities.
Love the pictures of you with your parents!!!!