Jesus Loves Me

 

No one should have to attend the funeral of a five year old. It was a very sad but sweet ceremony. He was a second generation farmer at 5 years old and he was proud of it! He had purchased a small yet costly John Deer tractor the day before he died with his own money and signed his name JO on the receipt because those were the only letters he knew of his name. We sang Jesus loves me at the ceremony because that was his favorite song and they played the "Dukes of Hazzard" as we were dismissed because that was his favorite show. The Dallas news channell 8 came to the funeral and showed his story on the news because of the 80 farmers who came out and helped the family put 3,000 bayles in the barn so they could tend to the funeral. His dad was out on the tractor when his little boy got ran over by the neighbors truck. A very sad day, but also filled with sweet memories of Johnny. The sky was overcast all day with a few sprinkles, but the sun still shined through the grey. The grey symbolic of our sadness and the light symbolic of the happy place that Johnny is now. I think the sweetest part of the day was watching John Paul (dad) drive the tractor pulling a trailer to the burial site. In the trailer was the family and the casket. They took Johnny on his last hayride. There were about 7 tractors lined up on the side of the rode and as the trailer passed each one the farmer would turn off his tractor until it was almost silent except for the one tractor they left running. I hope no one else has to experience a loss as this. This is a very strong family and they are truly remarkable people as David said because they believe in a remarkable God. God bless this family and be with them as they deal with the loss of this precious life that has been returned to the one who loves him the most and can make him the happiest little boy in heaven. I hope he has the greenest fields as far as the eye can see and a big green John Deer tractor to drive wherever his little heart desires.