One of the saddest sights I’ve seen is when a loved one is carried out of his or her home, cold and lifeless. Tears flow and sobs rack the air as the body is placed in a coffin or funeral bier and taken to a crematorium or cemetery.
Death is inevitable and nobody can escape this route out of life. We grieve for a loved one for days on end and sometimes the ache and sadness never leaves us; it is there forever. I read this beautiful poem the other day and thought it would be a balm to many people who miss a loved one sorely:
When you feel a gentle breeze
Caress you when you sigh
It’s a hug sent from heaven
From a loved one way up high.
If a soft and tender raindrop
Lands upon your nose
They’ve added a small kiss
As fragile as a rose.
If a song you hear fills you
With a feeling of sweet love
It’s a hug sent from Heaven
From someone special up above.
If you awaken in the morning
To a bluebird’s chirping song
Its music sent from Heaven
To cheer you all day long.
If tiny little raindrops
Land upon your face
It’s a hug sent from Heaven
Trimmed with Angel lace.
So keep the joy in your heart
If you’re lonely my dear friend
Hugs that are sent from Heaven
A broken heart will mend!
Aren’t they lovely lines? When my father passed away, the priest who spoke at the funeral gave me much comfort; I wish to share his words with you: “Imagine,” he said, “a ship leaving the harbor full of people. At the quay, hundreds of friends and relative have come to wish them goodbye and the ship sails away to tearful farewells. It becomes smaller and smaller and finally disappears.
But somewhere across the ocean, another crowd stands at another harbor waiting for the same ship to arrive and as they see the same boat coming closer, there are smiles on their faces and soon hugs and embraces of joy are exchanged with the newly arrived loves ones.
So it is with our loved one; they have left us but have been welcomed into new homes and are happy and joyous where they are now.
Now tell me, is there any need to weep for them, when they are so happy?
Robert Clements is a newspaper columnist and author. He blogs at www.bobsbanter.com and can be reached at bobsbanter@gmail.com
