Today, Friday, is a sad day personally, as it is the funeral of a very good High School friend of longstanding. Her husband was the best man at our wedding and Phil was the best man for their wedding. We were nurtured as young Christians in the same church and had many happy days and challenges together. So today is a time of remembering those happy memories of school days, of post exam days, of catching up days and holidays, of shared meals, and life events, of looking back at photographs, and sharing the struggles of illness and final days.
Today, her partner of many years, will release her and see her go into safer hands. For all of us it is a change of perception. We let her go and say goodbye for now, as she goes to her destined port, where other voices welcome her home, and she is free in the welcome of her Saviour.
I am standing upon the seashore. A ship, at my side,
spreads her white sails to the moving breeze and starts
for the blue ocean. She is an object of beauty and strength.
I stand and watch her until, at length, she hangs like a speck
of white cloud just where the sea and sky come to mingle with each other.
spreads her white sails to the moving breeze and starts
for the blue ocean. She is an object of beauty and strength.
I stand and watch her until, at length, she hangs like a speck
of white cloud just where the sea and sky come to mingle with each other.
Then, someone at my side says, “There, she is gone.”
Gone where?
Gone from my sight. That is all. She is just as large in mast,
hull and spar as she was when she left my side.
And, she is just as able to bear her load of living freight to her destined port.
Her diminished size is in me — not in her.
hull and spar as she was when she left my side.
And, she is just as able to bear her load of living freight to her destined port.
Her diminished size is in me — not in her.
And, just at the moment when someone says, “There, she is gone,”
there are other eyes watching her coming, and other voices
ready to take up the glad shout, “Here she comes!”
there are other eyes watching her coming, and other voices
ready to take up the glad shout, “Here she comes!”
And that is dying…
By Rev. Luther F. Beecher (1813-1903)
He will wipe away all tears from their eyes, and there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying, nor pain. All of that has gone forever. Revelation 21v 4 NLT
PRAY for those who have said goodbye to loved ones. May their memories be full and joyous and bring peace of mind and soul.
Jane Coates
17th October 2024