“I’ve never seen anything quite like this,” I thought to myself as I sat to the right of the Anderson family.
For about seven hours, the family had received friends, and the memorial service was about to begin. The line of those paying their respects streamed out the doors of the large church such that not all could even be greeted before the service. It was a continuous line of people for hours upon hours.
A loving mother, father, and brother greeted each person with an embracing hug or a firm handshake. I still can’t comprehend the stamina of this family after standing and greeting people for so long all while demonstrating great courage, resolve, and a determination to individually greet each guest. The lovingkindness in their eyes and the sweet smile on their faces as they comforted others was not only remarkable, but inspiring and uplifting.
Yes, that’s right, the family was comforting the rest of us. Wait … isn’t it supposed to be the other way around? Aren’t we here to comfort a father and mother who lost their only daughter and a young man who lost his only sibling?
Nope. Not today.
I concluded, “This is what Christ does through people that are authentic and grounded in a grace-drenched faith that’s much greater than themselves.” His grace runs deep, its breadth is wide, and its reach is long.
Grace. That’s the only way I can explain how a family can pull it together to stand by their young daughter’s flag draped coffin and gently assure hundreds of people one at a time that it’s going to be ok and that Rebeca is now cancer-free. She’s OK because she’s with her Lord.
Rebeca Grace Anderson was 24 years old, a commissioned Army officer, a devoted daughter and sister, a friend to so many, a servant to her God, and to the Smiths from northeast Georgia, she was family. This young lady had accomplished more than most people who’ve lived long lives. Her life’s work and service to others was peculiarly extensive. It’s almost as if she knew her life was short and she had much to accomplish.
At the memorial service, listening to her childhood friends share stories of Rebeca and the stories from friendships she’d developed on a professional level in the military, this young lady had an enormous but very evident impact on people. From mission trips to Haiti and Ghana where she selflessly and lovingly gave her time to children and those who needed medical assistance, to encouraging and challenging fellow army personnel.
And then her brother and her mother stood before a sea of people and collaboratively painted a portrait with words that offered a visual of what Rebeca was really like – the adventurous, vibrant, persevering, dogged, indomitable, yet kindhearted, gracious, compassionate, and sympathetic young lady. These adjectives sound incompatible and almost contradictory in describing the same person. Perhaps that’s because Rebeca was broad in her character, graced with an unusual personality, and an inherent ability and temperament to pull off what the rest of us only wish we could. She possessed the best of both ends of the spectrum.
Kind, but tough. Gentle, but firm. Confident, but hopeful. A leader, but teachable. Fitting isn’t it ... “Grace” as her middle name, acting as a fulcrum between two sides, balancing out the unique extremities of her character.
General MacArthur once said, “Part of the American dream is to live long and die young.” Rebeca evidently understood the words of the general very well. May we all live life as Rebeca with grace in the middle.