LETTER FROM A FRIEND
I just had to write to tell you how much I love you and care for you. Yesterday, I saw you walking and laughing with your friends; I hoped that soon you’d want Me to walk along with you, too. So, I painted you a sunset to close your day and whispered a cool breeze to refresh you. I waited —you never called —I just kept on loving you.
As I watched you fall asleep last night, I wanted so much to touch you. I spilled moonlight onto you face —trickling down your cheeks as so many tears have. You didn’t even think of Me; I wanted so much to comfort you.
The next day I exploded a brilliant sunrise into glorious morning for you. But you woke up late and rushed off to work — you didn’t even notice. My sky became cloudy and My tears were the rain.
I love you. Oh, if you’d only listen. I really love you. I try to say it in the quiet of the green meadow and in the blue sky. The wind whispers My love throughout the treetops and spills it into the vibrant colors of all the flowers. I shout it to you in the thunder of the great waterfalls and compose love songs for birds to sing for you. I warm you with the clothing of My sunshine and perfume the air with nature’s sweet scent. My love for you is deeper than any ocean and greater than any need in your heart. If you’d only realize how I care.
My Dad sends His love. I want you to meet Him —He cares, too. Fathers are just that way. So, please call on Me soon. No matter how long it takes. I’ll wait —because I love you.
Your Friend,
Jesus
ANOTHER LETTER FROM ANOTHER FRIEND
When I first saw the above selection, I had read almost through the first paragraph before I realized I was reading more than just another greeting card for a friend. I read and reread the selection carefully, for it provided many reminders which I needed. I hope you will be blessed, as I was blessed, by the selection. My interpretation of its message follows.
Sitting on the back porch in the early morning for quiet time with the Lord, I get the message of God’s love from all around. The birds join in concert. The lone duck left on the lake stands on the bank deciding just what direction he will take; he decides to swim across the lake, come up the hill, and join me for a morning chat. I feast my eyes on his beautiful coloring — blues and greens blending into gorgeous turquoise. A squirrel is busy gathering nuts, something I thought they did only in the fall. He finds a walnut then runs down his private highway atop the fence into the woods and back again. Don and I see him often as he searches in the ivy under the pecan tree while we eat breakfast. When he stands on his head in the tree before coming down, he blends so well with the tree that we can hardly see him. The message I get is that we should be so like God that we blend in with him as one.
The cows and calves are enjoying the cool grazing. The calves run far enough away from their mothers to feel free but stay close enough to feel the security of their mothers’ presence. God provides us freedom and security within his love.
The trees across the lake speak too. The greens of the pines and cedars, beautiful all winter, are now enriched by countless other shades of green, which all somehow come together with the hills and grass to make a unified picture. Near the lake one tree stands stark and dead. It seems so out of place in this beautiful view that I wish it were out of the picture. But it has its own story. The water rose and stayed too high too long on the tree last year. Now it stands out lifeless and barren — just as we are without God in our lives.
I come back to the scene in the afternoon for a quieting of spirit after a busy day. The birds are saying their farewells, joined now and then by a whippoorwill. The fish are jumping in the lake, and the duck is having one last turn around the lake. A calf throws his tail over his back as he races down the hill to his mother. The squirrel, preferring his woods with less activity, has retired to his tree there. The trees are as beautiful in the sunset as in the early morning. Spring seems to have begun again since the refreshing rain.
Again, the beauty of day’s ending, God speaks. I must take time to listen. He stills the frustrations of the day and gives me the peace he promises, a peace which is as sweet to my soul as the fragrance of the honeysuckle is to my nostrils.
Which is better, the beginning of the day or the ending? With Him we need not choose! He is always there waiting to answer our needs, but we must listen and we must ask. As the selection above says, He wants so much for us to let Him give us all His blessings.
We enjoy communicating with you through this newsletter, which is truly and simply a letter from friends who appreciate you and who take this means to keep in touch.
God Bless you!
Your Friend, Patsy
BOB ROSSON
Bob is involved in all aspects of work at the funeral home. We were pleased when Bob and our daughter Beth, whom he married in March of 1978, and their two children, Brett Waller, 5, and Sally Kate, 2, came back to Lafayette County; and we continue to enjoy having Bob’s help with the funeral home and farm.
Bob is the son of Robert and Betty Rosson, of Hammond, Louisiana. He has three brothers, Chris, Terry, and Glenn. His grandparents are Mr. and Mrs. Harvey Campbell, of West, Mississippi, and Mrs. Sally Kate Rosson and the late Mr. Robert E. Rosson, of Durant, Mississippi.
Bob graduated from Westover High School, in Albany, Georgia, in 1974, and he attended Copiah-Lincoln Junior College, in Natchez, and the University of Mississippi. Before beginning work with us, he worked as a senior merchandise manager for the J.C. Penney Company.
During the past two years, Bob attended Northwest Junior College in Southaven, and he has now graduated with a degree in mortuary science. He passed the Funeral Service National Board Examination in January of this year, and he will appear before the Mississippi State Board of Funeral Service later this year to be licensed in funeral service in the State of Mississippi.
Bob and his family are members of Oxford-University United Methodist Church, where he serves as a member of the Administration Board, as a member of the Pastor-Parish Relations Committee, and as secretary of the Nominations Committee. He is on the Boards of Directors, of the Fellowship Christian Athletes and the United Way, and he has recently been elected as a member of the Board of Directors of the Chamber of Commerce. He is Third Vice President of the Lions’ Club of Oxford and a member of the Partners in Education for the Chamber of Commerce. He is serving as chairperson for the 3.1-mile Liberty Run, one of the 4th of July events in Oxford. Bob enjoys spending time with his family and following Ole Miss football.
We value Bob in the many capacities he fills as a member of our staff and as a member of our family.
IN MEMORIAM
We dedicate this issue of SEASONS to those who have died and whose families we have served from February 26, 1986 to May 18, 1986.
Mrs. Violet Durell Blair Stacks 3-9-86
Mr. Louis Wayne Harmon, Sr. 3-16-86
Mr. Walter L. McCrory 3-17-86
Mrs. Josephine Porter Suber 3-18-86
Mrs. Iva Delle Peeples Franklin 3-21-86
Miss Mary Martha Leavell 3-21-86
Emily Michelle Crawford 3-22-86
Mr. John William Tarver 3-25-86
Mr. J.W. Mitchell, Sr. 3-25-86
Mrs. Ina Mathis Livingston 3-26-86
Mr. Joseph W. Wells 3-27-86
Mr. John W. Fudge 3-28-86
Mr. Dooley Carwile 4-4-86
Mr. Robert T. Sloan 4-6-86
Mr. Ronnie Earl Jones 4-7-86
Mr. Russell Curtis Tidwell 4-10-86
Mrs. Ruby McElroy Landreth 4-13-86
Mr. Horace A. ‘Buddy" Irby 4-28-86
Mr. Winford Edwin Fuller 5-3-86
Mr. John R. Mayfield, Jr. 5-10-86
Mr. Chester Lee Britt 5-10-86
Mr. Walter Jackson 5-11-86
Mr. Robert Howard Barker 5-13-86
PRE-PLANNING AND PRE-ARRANGEMENT
In each of our newsletters we have mentioned preplanning and pre-arrangement. We feel strongly that one of the kindest things you may ever do for your family is to preplan and prearrange your funeral and interment.
My previously expressed thoughts came to mind recently as Don and I prepared for a trip, and I scolded myself for not having done what I feel and say is important. And at that point I began to give serious thought to decisions our children would have make in the event Don and I should not come back from our trip.
In talking with Don bit by bit, I tried to find out things I did not know about his choices, knowing by his nature he would never want to make requests with which it would be hard to comply. I knew the type of casket he would like and I also knew which vault he would choose. I decided I would want him to have a new suit — one which I had wanted for him before, which he had never gotten. (After the trip when I shared these detailed thoughts with Don and the children, they were all especially amused that I had specified a particular new suit for him!) I tagged a certain suit and blouse in my closet, and I described the type flower piece I would want. I also selected a particular casket and vault for myself. From past family services, I knew Don’s ideas about pallbearer selection, and I wrote down my own choices as well. To suggest flowers for Don, I used the only comment I had ever heard or expected to hear from him about flowers: He had once commented on a casket piece here that "It must have one of every flower blooming in it."
As much as we love our funeral home chapel, we both want our services at Clear Creek church. I did request a brief time with just the families in the chapel at the funeral home. I liked the comments Don made at the time we dedicated the chapel so much that I requested that they be read again there in the chapel. Music selection was no problem; Don and I have expressed to each other from time to time the type music, instrumentalists and vocalists we like. Pastor selection was probably the hardest decision of all because we have had so many dear pastor friends through the years. Burial plots were not a problem; we have our plots in Clear Creek cemetery already.
Just before we left for our trip, I typed, sealed, and left with Bobby Phelps all these details. I did not go over the plans with the children or even tell them I had left plans. After we got back, safe and sound, we told them about the plans and discussed details and some of the whys and wherefores of the particular choices.
Should we live another thirty years or so, the children will no doubt have to make a few changes, although my intentions now are to update and revise the plans as needed. Who knows? they may not need any of this — we may be caught up in the rapture! However, in the event of death/deaths of either of us (although I somehow find myself always assuming Don and I will die together), Andy, Susan, and Beth will be spared many decisions in the midst of grief and the suggestions of others. Our children will know just how Don and I want it all done, and they will also know we certainly trust them to make decisions about additional or unforeseen details and needed changes. However, with this much ready, the load will be lighter.
Here at the funeral home we have helpful guidelines for setting down information required at the time funeral services are planned. Any one of us is available to come to your home or to meet you at the funeral home at your convenience to assist you in providing information your family might need. We also suggest recording vital statistics and background information needed for obituaries so those responsible will not have to supply these facts from memory or under the pressure of time.
If you choose to have your plans held confidential until the time of need, you can be sure we will honor this wish. The plans will be filed here at the funeral home and gotten out when the need arises.
Please call if you would like to talk about pre-planning and pre-arranging. We do not charge for any of these consultations. No question or thought you may have is too simple or unimportant to discuss. Whatever personal wishes and details the family desires can be incorporated into any service plan.
RECORDING SERVICES
The sound system at the funeral home has the capability of recording services. Several families have asked that we make recordings for family members who were unable to attend services or for some other personal reasons. We offer this service with no additional charge for those who request it. We DO NOT record services unless requested in advance.
Remember, preplanning and prearranging might be the most thoughtful thing you can do for your family.
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