with hope

i was just thinking about the song by steven curtis chapman in the shower..

And nothing we can say
And nothing we can do
Can take away the pain
The pain of losing you

But we can cry with hope
We can say goodbye with hope
'Cause we know our goodbye is not the end, oh no
And we can grieve with hope
'Cause we believe with hope
(There's a place by God's grace)
There's a place where we'll see your face again

i love the many different interpretations his songs give... saying goodbye in so many different ways to so many different things - but in the context of the full song... it's saying goodbye to a loved one (in death). i was searching for the song on youtube to put here.. and the number of people who've used it as a tribute to someone who'd passed away was astounding.



and then i wondered. is there such a thing as a beautiful funeral?
(like a beautiful wedding... perhaps)
joy in sadness (like when the dad gives the daughter away)
would a beautiful funeral be filled with smiling faces?
faces filled with the joy of the Lord...
with the knowing of a better place...
with hope.