Better The House of Mourning

 Yesterday we attended the funeral of another one of my mother-in-law's sisters. 

She was in her 88th year, spending most of them in quiet, humble service to her family and fellowman.

This verse was read in her funeral message of comfort and caution...

It is better to go to the house of mourning, than to go to the house of feasting: 

for that(death) is the end of all men; 

and the living will lay it to his heart.

Eccles.7:2

Better the house of mourning

Its meeting to attend

Than to ignore the warning

‘Soon life’s short stint will end’

Better the house of mourning

Where solemn heed is paid

To an orbit adorning

Life's dust-to-dust parade

Better the house of mourning

Than wine and feast's embrace

Lest we fall prey to scorning

The gravity of grace

Better the house of mourning

For there meek thought is bowed

Beneath Love’s tender awning

Resisted by the proud

Better the house of mourning

As mankind lays to heart

The crux of this sojourning

Where flesh and soul will part

© Janet Martin

While chatting with my oldest sister at the luncheon after the service, I mentioned that when I get home I need to tend to 2 Bu. of beans waiting to be preserved.

Guess who showed up at my house as soon as she could?!! Yep, Cheryl, my oldest sister.

Sometimes secretly I think her name might be Tabitha and this verse(Acts 9:36) 

in modern day could read something like this;
In Wallenstein there is a disciple named Tabitha (in Greek her name is Cheryl); 

she is always doing good and helping the poor.

SO glad Sat. night's picking is preserved...

  ...before we begin today's batch.