“Precious in
the sight of the LORD
is the
death of his saints.”
Ps.116:15 (NIV)
One of my closest friends, Martha, called early Sunday
afternoon. She had stayed the night at the nursing home. She received a
telephone call last Monday that her sister was heading into the very last phase
of her life. Sunday’s call to me was to tell me her sister had passed.
I called our mutual friend, Ginny, who is our pastoral
assistant. My purpose was to communicate our friend’s need of prayer. As I
conversed with Ginny, I realized I experienced a quiet joy for our friend’s
sister and yet sadness for my friend and her daughters.
After Hubby and I had lunch, I had a graduation Open House
to go to. The grandson of another close friend graduated from high school on
Saturday. That friend and her family have known and worshipped with Martha for
a long time. I wanted to insure that they received the prayer call about
Martha’s loss.
As I sat in our living room making initial input I reflect
on times when we had suffered a loss of a loved one. When my dad passed on, I
found a poem by John Donne that summed up my feelings. I always remember the
main thought of these lines-We all are impacted by the loss of a life because
our lives intertwine with those we meet as we walk this earth.
'No Man is an Island'
No man is an island entire of itself; every man
is a piece of the continent, a part of the main;
if a clod be washed away by the sea, Europe
is the less, as well as if a promontory were, as
well as any manner of thy friends or of thine
own were; any man's death diminishes me,
because I am involved in mankind.
And therefore never send to know for whom
the bell tolls; it tolls for thee.
MEDITATION XVII
Devotions upon Emergent Occasions
John Donne
The older I get the more this idea has hit me. After losing my Mom and sister in the same year, it really drove home how our days are numbered.So thankful we have the Lord to guide us through the process. Thankful as well for sweet friends like you - the love, prayers, and support are such a comfort. Will pray for you and your friend.
ReplyDeleteKaren: Thank you. It is always nice to hear from you.
ReplyDeleteHi Cecelia! What a beautiful verse for comfort in times of loss. And isn't it amazing that God can work through someone you never expected? Your friend ended up giving you peace. How great is our God!
ReplyDeleteYou and your friend will be in my prayers, as well as her sister.
Blessings,
Ceil
Ceil: Thank you for your warm thoughts. It is comforting to know that my church family cares enough about each other that they encourage us and pray for us when we have need.
DeleteThat is a lovely poem. Thank you for posting that. I love it.
ReplyDeleteRhonda: Thank you for stopping here at my blog. I found great comfort in this poem. I heard it quoted on "Touched By An Angel." It was the first time I realized that these thoughts were so touching.
ReplyDelete