Our church family will not be the same for anyone with out the presence of our sister and friend, Ruth "Honey" Dillard. Unfortunately, I was not one of the many who knew her so well... (see Emily's beautiful tribute to Honey here) but I know from her funeral today that she touched so many lives so deeply. My boys knew her not only by her contagious smile but also by her bell. She had a walker that she lovingly referred to as "John Henry" and she had a little bicycle-type bell on it. The boys loved to go ring her bell every sunday, and she loved for them to run up and greet her as they rang it each week. Last Sunday, Cason asked if he could go find Honey and ring her bell and I told him that she was not there are church because she had died and gone to Heaven. His face went from a state of shock to one of pure joy. "I bet she is gettin to see Jesus, mommy!" I fought back the tears as I agreed with him. "Yes, I am sure she is with Jesus!" I wish I had the faith and the desire of a child... Today at her funeral, they played a recording of an interview that she had done before she went to see Jesus. She had the sweetest voice. When her distinct voice came over the loud speaker, Cason began looking around, "Mommy... that's her... that's Honey!"
"No, Cason, that is just her voice."
"From Heaven?"
Sweet, sweet boy.... he was so confused... I explained that it was recorded before she passed away and he tried to understand but he continued to look around as if he expected to see her standing across the room. At the end of the service, my boys were given the honor of closing her memorial service with one last ring on John Henry's bell. What a beautiful picture I have of Honey up there with Jesus, with a smile on her face as they rang her bell one last time. Every time I hear a bicycle bell, I will think of Honey and the incredible example she was to so many.
