Small town girl

I saw many people today that I haven't seen in a long time.  I looked around the school and took my seat towards the back, all the others were filled with them.  I called on the Spirit of God to flow through out all of them gathered together to pay respects to a man and his family.  The man has left this earth to join those in Heaven, leaving behind many sad hearts, leaving a hole in the place where he had once been.  This man, like me, chose to live most of his life in Arlington.  It sounds like he left several times to go to college. find a job, visit other places, but, mainly he lived in Arlington.  I didn't know him real well personally but I did know him my whole life.  When I came into the world he was here, and when he left the world I was here.  His close family member was just laid to rest before Christmas, and now we lay him to rest.  I can't figure it all out.  He wasn't very old, a kind, gentle soul giving so much of himself to the people of Arlington...
finding his wife that went before him of a disease they still have to figure out.
She was beautiful and loved her children, I knew her, my mom and dad knowing all of their parents very well.  Going before her parents to lead the way?  How about the children they leave behind?  The grandchildren just twinkles at that time, now walk behind their grandpa's casket with tears of things that were yet to be.
And this is when we question how all of this works God... this is when we ask why?
I look around me, in front of me the man who worked with my mom in school for 30 plus years, beside him his boys whom I haven't seen in at least 30 years.  Those 30 years have been kind to them, they are as handsome as I remember, their smiles telling of the history of this place.  To my right I see girls I graduated with, their husbands, and their mothers with them.  A sadness hangs in the air as we look to each other and remember all the years gone by.
The singers start and my heart sings with them - it is all so beautifully sad. 
The preacher starts talking and my soul talks with him - it is all so beautifully true.
And I slow down my mind of all the questions...
I slow down and breath deep.
I don't know if it is more time that we want but I do know we want enough time.  Enough time to laugh long, and sing with joy.
And I remember when he died.  My favorite man, my dad.
I felt like I should have left home, left Arlington.
Wouldn't this have been easier if I had moved far away and hadn't gotten so close with all of these people?
A gentle whisper flows through my veins and I look around again at all gathered here in this place.  All gathered here in Arlington once again.
In this place we learned, we sang, we laughed, we danced, we cried...
I see in my hearts eyes, all the wonderful people that have left this town, they have left and yet stayed in contact with each other, kept this place in their hearts...
I realize quite rapidly, and with a force from God...
that for now, I am meant to be right here.
I am meant to be in Arlington, where I have always been, so that when the saddness comes home to celebrate life I can connect and say to them...
I remember,
I understand,
I will be here...
This is your home before Heaven and you are always welcome back here.
This town has turned out a lot of really good people -

And as they all leave this place the singer sings "Save a Place for Me" -
I remember this man with a great joy in my heart,
realizing deeply that he is not gone, but has gone ahead.
He will save a place for those he so dearly loved.
And I will pray that all who gathered will know the great love of Jesus Christ our Savior, and will all feel welcome to come home to this small town at any time.
I pray they will feel that they are living life so fully, so that when the time comes they are fully ready to die.
Should I stay here yet another year in this small town?
As I ask this I feel His arms gently holding those who mourn.
I can't understand this kind of grief.  It hurts,
but I can feel God's Grace and know in time we will all say "now I understand".