Today we have assembled ourselves to pay homage to the life and memory of Nancy Brooks. To the family I want to express my personal gratitude for allowing me to have part in this very special day - a day you shall remember for the rest of your lives.

I never knew Nancy in her "pre-sick" days. I have only known her since the discovery of the cancer. It didn’t take me long to learn that Nancy Brooks was a woman who had a heart full of love. She always spoke of her children and her family. Children you can find comfort in the fact that your mother loved you. Grandchildren and sisters alike can find that same comfort today.

Being the parent of two small children I am constantly bombarded by questions like: "Daddy who holds the moon up there? Or "Daddy why do you put whip cream on your hair and face?" I find in the ministry people are looking to me for answers to their questions. "Reverend Osborne why are people so cruel? Reverend Osborne how can I be certain I am going to Heaven?" "Reverend Osborne why do people die? George Mallory was asked why he wanted to climb Mt. Everest and he replied: "Because it’s there." I like that answer. Why do people die? Because it’s all part of the life process - it’s there and if we all live long enough and the Lord tarries we will all follow the path Nancy has gone.

Those of us who have come this way are going to miss Nancy. She was a radiant light in the midst of a sea that was muddled by sickness. William Shakespeare once said: "If you have tears prepare to shed them now." As we gather in services like this tears do fall. Tears are not a sign of weakness but rather a sign of love and sadness.

Button and Blossom sat on the beach and looked out across the ocean. The sun was setting and it’s golden light was reflecting in the crystal tears that streamed down their little cheeks. They could not speak for there were no words to say how sad they were and how much pain they felt. They had loved Pony so much that when she died they knew they would never stop hurting or feeling sad.

"Hello. Hello? Hellooooooooo?" came a small voice from the ocean. They looked up to see a tiny sea horse bouncing up and down in the waves. "If you’ll fill your sand bucket up with water I’ll jump in it and visit with you on the shore a while. So Button and Blossom filled the bucket with water and the tiny sea horse jumped in. "My name is Jasper - what’s your names?" "My name is Buttons and this is my sister Blossom." "Well," said Jasper, "I couldn’t help but overhear your crying and I wanted to see if I might be of some help."

"Our friend Pony died and we are very, very sad." "We miss her terribly and things will never be the same since she’s gone. He was such a wonderful friend."

"That’s what the King of the Ocean said. Of course he wasn’t always King of the Ocean - he use to be King of the Hills and Valleys. But when his mother died it broke his heart so much that he cried and cried. He cried so much that soon all the wonderful Hills and Valleys were covered with water and from that point on he was called King of the Ocean for he cried an Ocean of tears.

One day the Maker of All Things visited the King of the Ocean and gave him a wonderful gift that enabled him to be reconciled to his mother’s death. The Maker of all Things gave him the gift of remembrance. When he looks at the blue water he sees his mother’s eyes. When he looks at the coral beneath the water he see her lovely pink cheeks."

"But he will never hear her voice again" said Button. "Oh but he does! Whenever he hears a bird sing he hears his mother humming. She’s all around him in his remembrance!"

"But Pony was different - it won’t work that way with Pony. I doubt the Maker of All Things could give us a remembrance of Pony." said Blossom. "But he already has," said Jasper. "It’s there inside your heart forever. Close your eyes and you will see Pony. If you truly, truly loved her she will always be there. That’s the gift of remembrance that the Maker of All Things gives to those who love."

Family while death has taken Nancy from our presence - this much I know - Death cannot remove the gift of remembrance - a gift given to us by an Almighty and loving God in order that we might be comforted. May the Lord’s Blessings Be Upon You.

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