Del - A Story of Thankfulness

In July of 1996 it was my privilege and honor to be included in the funeral service of 90-year-old woman named Delma, or "Del" for short.  Not only had she been a resident of the nursing home where I served as Chaplain, but Del was also a member of my home church.  She was one of the graciously kind church ladies who had welcomed me as a young bride into the fold of the church family and patiently taught me how to serve Sunday morning coffee (not so much my gift) and encouraged me to lead Bible Studies (more my gift than being in the kitchen!)  

Del was all of five feet tall with a heart that filled every inch of her being.  Though Del and her husband were not blessed with children of their own, Del found her calling in serving in the school library where children abounded!  I felt it was only fitting to design Del's eulogy in the form of a story book.  It began, as all good stories begin:

Once upon a time, 
God made the world a gift.    The world called her "Del."
Del was blessed with a heart of kindness, a mind of goodness and hands of service.  

Del's hands were special.  Del's hands were always moving.  Her hands baked pies and cakes, planted gardens, cut quilt squares and sewed, washed dishes and held other hands.  Del's hands seemed to always be busy and yet there was one very special task that Del's hands did and did very well.  It was her calling from God:  Del's hands held books.

Del worked in a big room full of books called a library and every day at work, she held books for the children.  For the little children, her hands showed them how to gently turn the pages and discover the wonder of reading.  For bigger children, Del's fingers would dance along the bindings as she pointed out adventures, romances and mysteries.  And the children loved Del for her hands and for her love of books.

One day Del got old and she was alone.  She went to live in a special home where she found herself in the company of a new family.  There Del was surrounded by caring hands of others now that her hands were becoming stiff.  Still, Del shared her hands.

In the morning, Del would help fold the warm clothes from the laundry.  She especially liked the soft washcloths and towels.  On Tuesdays she moved the Bingo pieces just for the fun of it.  Often she folded her hands in prayer in the chapel during worship to give thanks to God for blessing her so richly.  And just last Halloween, Del's hands made children happy again as she handed out candy.  The smile on Del's face was from the squeals of delight as the trick and treater children recognized Del and exclaimed, "It's the Library Lady!"

It was the Chaplain's last visit with Del.  Small and frail, Del was at peace.  Her eyes, soft and kind, matched her voice as she recited with the Chaplain the words of the 23rd Psalm that are found in the book that Del knew so well.  Her hands  -- one last time -- slowly crept out from under the blanket to hold the hand of the Chaplain.  "Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever."  

Rest in peace, Dear Del.  Rest securely in the Hands of Almighty God...now and forevermore.  Amen.