by S A Dalton

Created on: May 08, 2009   Last Updated: June 16, 2009

Although death is an inevitable part of life, it's a subject that many people go out of their way to avoid. No one wants to discuss a family member or loved one's funeral.

Just recently, I have chosen for my body to be cremated, instead of having my family's traditional burial. This choice was made after a lot of careful thought and research on the subject.

My husband and I have family cemeteries on both sides of the family. Because these cemeteries are owned by the family, myself and all other members of my family already have burial plots. Paying for a plot has nothing to do with my choice of being cremated.

Being raised of spirit-filled Baptist faith, cremation was never an option to be considered. My mother has always had strong beliefs against it and has let it be known to us since we were small children. For years, I agreed with her and never gave it a second thought. With more people choosing cremation today, I have began researching it more.

The world has become so populated, that more land is required to bury the dead. Not long ago, I was reading a news articld that eventually, bodies will have to be stacked in burial plots due to a lack of room to put everyone. Since coffins are made so airtight now days, they are no longer required to be buried six feet deep. They will eventually be able to bury a body just three feet under the ground. This is why stacking may eventually become a solution.

It was this article that got me to thinking. I never liked the idea of anyone's body being burned. I especially didn't want it for myself. Cremation, to me, has always represented Satanism. It's what I was taught as a child and until now has stuck with me. After researching the subject, I know I was wrong to believe it that way. Cremation is just a matter of personal opinion. Although I don't relish the idea of burning my body after death, due to being claustrophobic, I have a hard time with the sealed coffin, as well.

I have come to the conclusion, that since it's just my earthly body and I won't know the difference, why not make a decision that will help the world when I'm gone? By being cremated, my family can save my ashes or they can be tossed across the land. Since ashes don't take up a lot of space, I don't forsee a problem with the population in the future. Why not leave the land for the living? It's like having one last opportunity to help the earth.

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