At the editors’ request, Mr. Mike Langeland, mem­ber of our Georgetown PRC in Hudsonville, MI, and fifth-generation funeral director, wrote a few thoughts to us for the readers of the Standard Bearer.

From the brother’s note to us:

• “Families suffering from loss must walk through the journey of a death, but they need not walk alone. Being supported and loved by God, family, and God’s people carries them through that journey….When I carry the body of my loved one to the grave, place a flower on their casket, engage my emotions while seeing the deceased body of my loved one, I do the necessary work for my own loss journey.”
• “Funerals do not need to be large or small, private or public, modest or extravagant. A good funeral is where the right people are in the right place at the right time.”
• Recommended books: The Good Funeral, by Dr. Thomas Long and Thomas Lynch; Accompany Them with Singing by Dr. Thomas Long.
• Langeland is willing to correspond with you about death and funerals, especially in light of the Covid-19 outbreak. You may write to him at mike@ langelandsterenberg.com.