Today is going to be an emotional day. Today is Gram’s funeral, a chance to say our final goodbyes. We are going to miss her so much. Life is going to be so different without her! But we are so thankful for the time we did have with her. She was loved so deeply by so many people, and will never be forgotten.

How do you prepare yourself for what you know will be a mentally, emotionally, and physically draining day? How do you find the strength to walk head-on into a somber day like this, knowing you are about to be struck by a wave of emotions as you concede to the end of an era?

Psalm 121 comes to mind on a day like this. It says:

¹ I lift up my eyes to the mountains—
where does my help come from?
² My help comes from the Lord,
the Maker of heaven and earth.

³ He will not let your foot slip—
he who watches over you will not slumber;
⁴ indeed, he who watches over Israel
will neither slumber nor sleep.

⁵ The Lord watches over you—
the Lord is your shade at your right hand;
⁶ the sun will not harm you by day,
nor the moon by night.

⁷ The Lord will keep you from all harm—
he will watch over your life;
⁸ the Lord will watch over your coming and going
both now and forevermore.
   (Psalm 121, NIV)

On days like today, I am so thankful that my source of strength does not come from some earthly place, but from a God who does not slumber or sleep. He watches over me day and night, and He will care for me in my darkest moments. He is here in the middle of all of this pain, and I can find peace in knowing that Gram is safe in His loving arms. She has truly been kept from “all harm”, as she rests in His glorious presence, “both now and forevermore.”