Dear Ellan,
Tuesday was the end of the world as we know it. Half of us at your grave have never been on this planet without you. Others can’t remember this planet without you, and don’t want to go back to a world without Ellan.
Saturday, there were others. Many, many others. You’ve always drawn a full house, and your funeral was no exception. Tom chose the perfect song to greet your adoring fans:
One by one they came Far as the eyes could see Each life somehow touched By your generosity
Little things that you had done Sacrifices made Unnoticed on the earth In heaven now proclaimed
Tuesday at the hospital, soon after the doctor announced the end of your earthly life, your husband announced the beginning of your eternal life. He said in pure wonder, “My wife is in the presence of God right now.”
And I know that up in heaven You're not supposed to cry But I am almost sure There were tears in your eyes As Jesus took your hand And you stood before the Lord He said, my child look around you For great is your reward
At the funeral, Callie stood up and described her magnificent grandmother. In that brief tribute, she radiated the legacy you left in her: strength, wisdom, grace, and love. But the greatest of these is love.
How many people felt hopeless before they met you? How many people found hope through you? If Callie had asked the crowd to raise their hand if their life was changed for the better by Ellan Duke, what would she have seen? If your boys had turned around and looked, what would they see? If the people who came to say goodbye to you had sung together, what would they sing?
The crowd would belt it out
Thank you for giving to the Lord I am a life that was changed Thank you for giving to the Lord I am so glad you gave
And each of us here feel the same way
Thank you for giving to the Lord I am a life that was changed Thank you for giving to the Lord I am so glad you gave
As Taylor said to Grandma Betty on her departure, We’ll see you soon. Have fun.
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