Genesis 23:4, “I am a stranger and an alien residing among you; give me property among you for a burying place, so that I may bury my dead….”
In the above verse, Abraham goes about the business of purchasing a field for the burial of Sarah. Abraham’s wife has passed away and he is in the early stages of grief when he has to buy a plot of ground for her burial.
One of the hardest things for families, after experiencing the loss of a loved one, is the business of burial. If you have experienced the loss of a loved one in recent years you already know that purchasing a casket and burial plot is not cheap. In fact, it is very expensive, with an average cost between $7,000 to $10,000. As if it wasn’t hard enough to experience the loss of a loved one, the financial burden of paying for a funeral often leaves the family in distress, especially for those families with limited resources.
Although most funeral home personnel are kind, compassionate, and sympathetic; it is still a business, and they are in the business of making money. If you have limited resources please be careful. You are very vulnerable at this point in the process, and often emotions can influence our spending when it comes to purchasing a funeral plan. Most of us want the best for our loved ones, but we may not be able to purchase the most expensive casket and vault. If you have limited resources, let the funeral home know so they can help you make reasonable decisions on the items you purchase. Most funeral home personnel, that I know, will help families that are in need and they don’t want to see families burdened beyond their ability to recover financially.
GEC (Grief Education Center) 