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Where Is Thy Sting?

Album: 24: Risks and Rewards

Episode: 320

Lesson/Theme: Dealing with the death of a loved one.

Bible Verse: 1 Corinthians 15:54-57; 1 Thessalonians 4:13; 1 Ti

Characters: George, Connie, Eugene

Writer: Paul McCusker

Sound Designer: Dave Arnold

Original Air Date: June 24, 1995

Last Air Date: April 15, 2009

Description:
Connie's grandmother has died, and everyone at Whit's End is sympathetic, even Eugene. Connie and her mother are trying to make arrangements for the funeral. They are also waiting for Connie's dad to arrive. When they pick him up at the airport, he is agitated, surly, and depressed, and he goes downhill from there. First, Bill Kendall bristles when Connie suggests that instead of having a morose funeral service, they celebrate her grandmother's life on earth and her new life in heaven. Bill retorts that they're not going to turn his mother's funeral into some sort of party. He storms out of the room. Later, he and June get into an argument about the service, and Bill storms out again. He's so upset that, at the viewing that night, he shows up drunk. June and Connie try to find out why Bill's behaving so badly, but he won't tell them. The service is the next day, and it is beautiful. Jack and George Barclay read from the Scripture and Grandma's pastor from her home church in New York gives a wonderful eulogy. After the service, Bill, June, and Connie are left alone to say good-bye to Grandma. Bill finally explains his bad behavior: His marriage to April is finished. His life is a mess. He breaks down in tears and leaves, completely without hope. But for June, it's a different story. She realizes that she's been living on the coattails of Connie's faith, June needs to have a faith of her own. She knows the time is right, so she asks Connie to introduce her properly to Jesus. Connie is only too happy to oblige.

Questions:
Why was Bill Kendall so upset about his mother's death? Why was Connie so peaceful about it? Have you ever had anyone close to you die? How did you feel about it? Why did you react in the way you did?