Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?” John 11:25-26
One year ago today my family was joined by approximately 1500 friends as we celebrated the life and legacy of my husband of forty-nine years, Danny Lotz. It was an unforgettable service that honored my husband and brought glory to God. Every day I meet people who were either physically present or who watched the live-stream online. The comment I get most often is one that I heard again this past Sunday, “Anne, I’ve never felt such an overwhelming sense of the presence of God as I did during that service. I could have sat and listened for hours.”
As I reflect on all that took place one year ago—including discovering Danny unresponsive in our pool, to the decision made in the ER to put him on life support, to the decision two days later to take him off life support, to the planning and then the executing of his celebration service, to the burial the next day, to my life now as a widow—the verse that brings me the most comfort at present is Philippians 1:21…For me to live is Christ, and to die is gain. While I’m not sure of all that is involved in the “gain”, I know one thing that it means is that Danny is better off today than he was a year ago. And the primary reason he is better off is that he is at home with the Lord. (2 Corinthians 5:8)
Flowers left by my children and grandchildren on August 19, 2016
Thank you for your thoughts, your prayers, and your many emails, texts, posts, and cards expressing your support. As a result, God has given me one blessing after another—blessings that are carrying me through as I make it my goal to please Him. (2 Corinthians 5:9)
For those of you who may want to reflect once again with me on Danny’s life and legacy, the following is a link to the Celebration Service — CLICK HERE.
