When we could carry her no more

As hard as the past few months have been, this morning was equally as joyful. In giving love & care to gma, there were some sensitive personal things the men in our lives just couldn't do. They wanted to help and they did in every way they could from fixing dinners & doing double duty at home to grocery shopping & football practice runs. But when it came to literal hands on care, it was momma, my aunts, sister, cousins, Ms Kristy, Michelle and myself.
This morning though, this morning it was the men in Mawmaw's life that carried her tent to its final resting place. When God determined that our turn was over, their turn for hands on care began.
From daddy's nights spent on an air mattress so that momma didn't have to be alone to Uncle Randall's alertness & gentleness in loving my own son through the service. From Josh's amazing eulogy and encouragement that both honored gma AND glorified God to Brian's willingness to lead a worship service like few I've been a part of.
Then at the end, we watched with tears of sadness, amazement, and gratitude as those that had been in the shadows for so long took hold and carried gma the rest of the way. Brian, Caleb, Mike, Jeff, Kendall and Brian gently took hold of the simple, beautiful casket and carried her when we could no longer.
But each of these men have not only carried gma for the past 13wks, they have carried each of us as well through their sacrifices, though they may not have realized it at the time. THAT is love.
Gma often reminded us girls of the verses in Ephesians about submission. Today though, I watched as these men lived out the self sacrificing love the next few verses address for everyone to see.
These amazing men are our protectors, our best friends, our shoulders to cry on, our embrace when we can't take one more step. They smile with us, love with us, cry with us, grieve with us. They will continue to carry us.
For each of them, I could never be thankful enough.