To dust you shall return

It was Ash Wednesday a couple of days ago. Our family attended Mass to begin our Lenten journey and to receive ashes. Each of us walked up (or rolled up) to the alter to receive ashes placed on our foreheads in the sign of a cross.  After receiving ashes there was quite a bit of a commotion along our pew. The kids began comparing the sizes of their crosses, some immediately began wiping them off. Others were fussing because ashes had fallen into their eyes.  Once I finally got our shangiangains under control. I was able to reflect.

The priest said "reminder you are dust and to dust you shall return".  As I bowed my head to pray and reflect on this phrase some of my ashes fell from my forehead onto my hands. I just sat their looking at the ashes, the black dust scattered in my hand.  Suddenly my heart and my eyes welled with sadness. A memory came flooding back to me. A memory from just 6 months ago. I remembered the very moment the funeral director handed me the urn that held the ashes of my beloved grandmother, Audrey. These same hands of mine that now held the ashes of Ash Wednesday once held her ashes!
The pain of that day came flooding back to my heart. I had to go to the funeral home to pick up my grandma's remains when they were ready.  We were going to hold her funeral a few days later in a different state, her home. I didn't realize the gravity of this task until it actually came to pass.  After carefully carrying the urn holding my grandma's ashes out of the funeral home, I placed my grandmas urn in the front seat of my van.  Then I just sat in the parking lot...... frozen.
I couldn't stop staring at that box. The box that my brother so lovingly crafted out of wood himself.  Yet inside that beautiful box, held the body of a woman I admired so very much.  I was lost.
       I honestly had no idea what to do. I kept thinking of us (my grandma's ashes and I) just sitting here in the parking lot. It didn't seem like enough for her. I wanted more time with her.

        You may think I'm crazy after reading this.....but I took Grandma to the beach!  Yep.....I didn't want to go home yet.  The thought of just putting her on a shelf somewhere until her funeral had me overwhelmed. I wanted more time.
So I sat on the beachfront holding the beautiful box that contained the most beautiful woman I know....knew.
It was an absolutely gorgeous day, the sun shining, the breeze blowing, keeping it a perfect temperature....a day she would have LOVED! I was sitting there looking at the vastness and serenity of the Gulf of Mexico, trying to take in every moment.  Prior to this one I had spent countless moments with my Grandma.  She lived with me most of my childhood, we even shared a room for part of it.  So we spent so many wonderful moments together.....but sitting there holding her ashes, I realized in a very painful way......those moments were gone.  They were just memories now.

Back to Ash Wednesday.....as I sat in church staring at the ashes in my hands...the ashes that fell from my cross..... the words of the priest resonated in a very loud way  -
   
                     REMEMBER YOU ARE DUST AND TO DUST YOU SHALL RETURN

I may not get to spend any more time with my grandma in this life, this Earthly life.
But one day, my body will be but mere dust as well.  But because of the LOVE and sacrifice of our Savior Jesus Christ....our souls will be reunited, we will be together again.
As I continued to stare at those ashes....the sadness that washed over me thinking of my Grandma's ashes was then washed away with the HOPE and JOY that comes with the promise of our Lord.

           After the pain of the cross washes away
                                      the JOY of the resurrection is ALIVE and remains forever!!

 Remember you are dust....and to dust you shall return.  Are you ready? Are you ready if today is the day you return to ash?  Cherish the moments you are spending with those around you.  And if you want to know more about the HOPE and promise of our Savior Jesus Christ....I would love to share it with you.

Dear Lord, help us during this LENTEN season to remember that we are dust, that this life is so short, but that time with YOU is forever.  Help us to love like YOU and to cherish those that you have put in our lives each and every moment.  

Amen.