Just as I arrived on family vacation, I
received a text that one of my student’s mothers had died.
Her funeral was this past Saturday.
I had the time and availability to go, so I
did.
I thought it would be good for the student to
see a friendly face from the school.
Heidi the Librarian went with me and ended up
speaking at the funeral.
The student’s kindergarten teacher was also
there.
The mom was a nurse at the local hospital.
She graduated from the local community college
and because of this was honored by something called the Nurses Honor Guard.
Two nurses dressed in traditional nursing
attire read A Nurse’s Pledge, A Nurse’s Prayer, and honored the work that the
mother had done in her life.
After that, one of the nurses rang a bell 3
times.
After the first ring, she said, “KP, report
for duty.”
After the second ring, she said, “KP, report
for duty.”
But after the third ring, she said, “KP, you
have been released from duty. Job well done.”
It was very moving.
And something I had never seen.
After the funeral, we went through the
receiving line and spoke to the family.
I only waved to the student because he was
feeling very shy,
But I hugged the grandmother who I’d often seen
in the car rider line,
And I know she was glad we were there.
I know this sounds strange,
But if I could create any job in the world,
Then I would create a job doing exactly what I
did on Saturday:
Showing up and holding space for students,
families, and teachers when they need it most.
And if I could do this as a representative of
the local school system,
Then I could create a Teachers Honor Guard and
honor the work of lives well-spent in teaching.
….
A chaplain to the public schools.
That’s my heart’s deepest desire.
If we believe in multiple intelligences,
Then we cannot ignore the spirituality within
us all—
The yearning for something more—
The desire to connect on a level deeper than
we understand.
….
20 years from now, I doubt my student will
remember that his K1 music teacher showed up at his mom‘s funeral.
Then again, maybe he will.
Either way, he and his family were being held
in light and love and goodness and prayer
On that day,
In those moments,
And they lived through them,
Surrounded by people journeying with them,
Connected to something so much deeper than
themselves.
Oh God: Help us to show up for one another and
honor one another both in life and death. Be with my student as he learns to
navigate life without his mama. Help him always to remember her love for him
and help her legacy to live through connections even she will never know. Amen.
