FRIENDS GONE BY
(This article should have been written
back in January, but we kept putting
it off, again and again, until now.)
We find it rather interesting that most
of us believe we shall live in this mortal
realm forever. And so we are stunned
when friends we have known for 10, 20
years suddenly are no longer members
of our earthly fellowship.
During the last six months of 2016, we
bid farewell to five of our friends that
we saw regularly on a weekly basis.
Three of these came every Sunday
to the church we attended. And so,
for us, the last six months of 2016
placed us within a definite season
of mourning.
St. Paul has written, O death where
is thy sting," (1 Corinthians 15:55),
inferring, of course, to the resurrection
of Jesus Christ, and to the comfort
this knowledge gives to those who
mourn.
But, for us, we have felt the sting of
of death for those we have gotten to
know and treasure. And it has
been painful.
With the advent of a new year, we
do what is required. We move ahead,
but with a slightly slower step and
and a deeper appreciation for the
life we live.
Still...
The empty chairs
The familiar voices
The friendly smiles
The warm greetings
O Lord, where are they now?
When shall we meet them again?
We live for that day when we may
see them again.
(Written March 11, 2016)
(On March 23,2016, our thirteen
year-old great-nephew, Emery
Robinson passed away of a
sudden unexpected illness.)
And still, our lives go on,
for a little while.