What Will Your Epitaph Be?
Someone recently sent me a link to an epitaph from earlier this month. While the link to it no longer works (they’re only kept up a week), I think there are likely several lessons to be had:
Dolores Aguilar
1929 - Aug. 7, 2008Dolores Aguilar, born in 1929 in New Mexico, left us on August 7, 2008. She will be met in the afterlife by her husband, Raymond, her son, Paul Jr., and daughter, Ruby.
She is survived by her daughters Marietta, Mitzi, Stella, Beatrice, Virginia and Ramona, and son Billy; grandchildren, Donnelle, Joe, Mitzie, Maria, Mario, Marty, Tynette, Tania, Leta, Alexandria, Tommy, Billy, Mathew, Raymond, Kenny, Javier, Lisa, Ashlie and Michael; great-grandchildren, Brendan, Joseph, Karissa, Jacob, Delaney, Shawn, Cienna, Bailey, Christian, Andre Jr., Andrea, Keith, Saeed, Nujaymah, Salma, Merissa, Emily, Jayci, Isabella, Samantha and Emily. I apologize if I missed anyone.
Dolores had no hobbies, made no contribution to society and rarely shared a kind word or deed in her life. I speak for the majority of her family when I say her presence will not be missed by many, very few tears will be shed and there will be no lamenting over her passing.
Her family will remember Dolores and amongst ourselves we will remember her in our own way, which were mostly sad and troubling times throughout the years. We may have some fond memories of her and perhaps we will think of those times too. But I truly believe at the end of the day ALL of us will really only miss what we never had, a good and kind mother, grandmother and great-grandmother. I hope she is finally at peace with herself. As for the rest of us left behind, I hope this is the beginning of a time of healing and learning to be a family again.
There will be no service, no prayers and no closure for the family she spent a lifetime tearing apart. We cannot come together in the end to see to it that her grandchildren and great-grandchildren can say their goodbyes. So I say here for all of us, GOOD BYE, MOM.
Wow…
As I read this, I wondered what things we do to tear our own families apart - both those by birth and those within the Church. And as I read this, I wondered if Dolores had a “discernment” blog. If so, this would seem all the more fitting. When I get emails asking if I would be happy if the Armchair “Discernmentalist” sites would all just shut down, the answer I give is “no - I just want them to start acting like the person they claim to follow”.
If not, then I’ve not read a more appropriate epitaph…
August 20th, 2008 at 12:27 pm
Rick Frueh
As imperfect a person as could be imagined - a follower of Jesus who often stumbled - was sometimes wrong when he thought he was right - could claim nothing but grace
In the end - a sincere goofball who loved Christ
PS - Rick’s presence can be felt on fall Saturdays in South Bend. He will be sitting on top of the famous mosaic!
August 20th, 2008 at 12:39 pm
Chris Lyons
Absolutely and observably imperfect - a follower of Jesus - claimed nothing but grace (how could he otherwise?)
In the end - a sincere goofball who loved Jesus and made Frueh look normal (metaphorically speaking)
PS - He is now being straightened out by the Apostle Paul as to his theology (Rick is assisting Paul with the particulars)
August 20th, 2008 at 1:11 pm
John Hughes
**crickets chirp**
August 20th, 2008 at 1:39 pm
Chris P.
Glad to leave the disingenuous rhetorical garbage of anti-odm blogs behind.
August 20th, 2008 at 1:48 pm
…and weeping in despair at the pummeling of the papists…
August 20th, 2008 at 2:01 pm
Keith Whitfield
I told you I was sick!
August 20th, 2008 at 2:23 pm
Joe Martino
This is not the place for discussion.
August 20th, 2008 at 2:24 pm
Ken Silva
The Lord be praised I’m dead.
August 20th, 2008 at 2:26 pm
Ingrid Schlueter
I will not be posting for awhile.
August 20th, 2008 at 2:29 pm
Richard Abanes
PEOPLE: Where is Richard?
RA: I’m dead.
August 20th, 2008 at 2:31 pm
Chris P.
I’m finally rid of you compromisers.
August 20th, 2008 at 2:32 pm
Zan Lyons
My long discipleship assignment is now over.
August 20th, 2008 at 2:46 pm
Rick Frueh
Thank goodness…Now the rest of us will get a chance to comment!
8^)>
August 20th, 2008 at 3:47 pm
Merry
Keith stole my epitaph.
August 20th, 2008 at 3:53 pm
IGGY: I will NOT engage PB from this point forward!
August 20th, 2008 at 4:12 pm
Merry
The clowns did it.
August 20th, 2008 at 4:30 pm
Richard Abanes: I did not work for Rick Warren.
August 20th, 2008 at 4:31 pm
Evan: I’m still not convinced.
August 20th, 2008 at 4:32 pm
Ken Silva: I was a closet synergist.
August 20th, 2008 at 4:34 pm
Mike Ratcliff: I’ve Prayed About This . . .You’re ALL wrong. Repent!
August 20th, 2008 at 5:20 pm
Richard Abanes
I said it was my last word on the subject
August 20th, 2008 at 5:23 pm
Or the famous gravestone quote ( i forgot who’s)
I said i was ill
Mine would be hmmmmm
Wasted is life trying to figure it out,before he dived in
August 20th, 2008 at 5:27 pm
nc
From a piece of crap to fertilizer.
August 20th, 2008 at 5:40 pm
Andy: #22 made me laugh!!!
Rick: Your last entry echoes the sentiment of a former co-worker–he was an atheist.
“You’re born, you live, you die, and the maggots eat ya.”
August 20th, 2008 at 6:39 pm
Joe C
“My wife made this epitaph, she’s now peeing herself.
Go Red Sox!”
August 20th, 2008 at 6:40 pm
John MacArthur
“Now I finally get to take over the Truth War for God!”
August 20th, 2008 at 8:22 pm
LOL!
I am such a sucker to forgive others all the time…
iggy
August 22nd, 2008 at 5:22 pm
Iggy, If I may, “To err is human, to forgive is not just to re-engage.”
August 22nd, 2008 at 5:24 pm
Sam Walker:
I told that guy with the scythe and robe to watch where he was going.