My emotions have been very close to the surface this week upon hearing of the passing of John Rona, a dear man in our ward who was in a motorcycle accident two weeks ago (see my entry from 5/17). I did not know him at all, but his funeral was one of the most inspiring, uplifting, spiritual meetings I have ever experienced. I cannot adequately describe my emotions, but I will try to write a few thoughts. John's 5 children were relatively young (ages 17 through about 30), yet the burden of deciding to take him off of life support was on their shoulders (his wife had divorced him several years ago). The two of the children who spoke described the process of praying fervently to know the Lord's will in the matter, and eventually they understood that it was John's time to go. Although they are grief-stricken, they are completely at peace. They know with a sure knowledge that their dad lives, is in fact more alive today than he ever has been. The oldest son and his wife has just had their first baby two months ago, so he had just recently experienced a life coming into the world, and then a life leaving this world; both of these lives are dearly beloved to him. His understanding of our eternal nature has expanded and deepened. This life is truly only a relatively brief moment when you look at it from an eternal perspective. He also shared that when he was dressing his father in his temple robes, he knew he was in the presence of royalty. He knew that his father was standing right beside him, and that he was literally dressing a King to the most High God.
John's daughter sang the song Think of Me from Phantom of the Opera. Apparently, she had been sitting at the piano with John a few months ago singing that song, and John said he wanted it sung at his funeral. At the time, she just hit him and told him not to talk like that. She could barely make it through the song, nor could the audience.
Although my words are truly inadequate to express this, my testimony of the Plan of Salvation and God's love for us has increased. I am grateful for a loving Heavenly Father and the eternal nature of our lives. It gives me Hope and Peace. It also gives me a renewed desire to live every day as if it were my last on earth. We truly never know what tomorrow might bring. But as for today, I will do my best to serve the Lord and others with renewed determination, commitment, and - most of all - Love.
A link to John's obituary:
http://www.legacy.com/DeseretNews/Obituaries.asp?Page=LifeStory&PersonID=127716019
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