I never blog on a Sunday. But I woke up today wanting to write…so Good morning to you all.
Yesterday was Mum’s cremation service in the morning and then Thanksgiving in the afternoon.
I have never been more proud of my Daddy, who spoke lovingly and with huge unwavering strength about his wife.
My brothers were also remarkably good at sharing in the day – all of them in different ways. Their partners – wife, wife to be and girlfriend were also incredible. Jon and his parents were wonderful. All those contributed and came in their hundreds…Everyone pulled together…

My favourite part of the day is hard to choose. There were so many real highlights for me…
The amazing organist who I think is 17…
The beautiful Jon Rutter piece that was played at the end of the Crem service…
Seeing Mummy’s wicker basket (not coffin) woven with all her favourite colours of flowers.

But the most wonderful thing happened in the morning. As the speaker (our pal, Ian Knox) was leading and talking about the shadow of death, he described how the sunshine makes that shadow possible. He joked that we don’t see that sun much in Manchester.

At that moment, on a dreary day with threatening clouds and drizzle-a- plenty, God sent one clear, bright shaft of sunlight through the top stained glass window to shine brightly on Ian’s face.

It was so remarkable and caught us all by surprise. Ian included. It was like God suddenly put the lights on.
Which of course He has.

How lovely Mum is in that light permanently and we do not need to worry about her anymore. How lovely that we can all choose to turn to that light when we face shadows of any kind…

Praise the God who said “Let there be light” and there was …and the darkness has, and never will, overcome it!