It breaks my heart
To lay you to rest this way
From a distance
Without the sendoff you deserve.
No touch, no kiss, no loving crowd in attendance.
But I know your soul has already moved on
From the body we bury today
To the place of eternal knowing and peace
In God’s shelter.
I can’t bear your casket
But I can bear witness
To your undying legacy:
I miss you.
And nothing –
No person, no joy, no accomplishment, no distraction,
Not even God
Can fill the gaping hole your absence has left in my life.
But mixed together with all my sadness,
There is a great joy for having known you.
I want to thank you for the time we shared,
For the love you gave,
For the wisdom you spread.
Thank you for the magnificent moments
And for the ordinary ones too.
There was beauty in our simplicity
Holiness in our unspectacular days
And I will carry the lessons you taught me always.
Your life has ended
But your light can never be extinguished.
It continues to shine upon me
Even on the darkest nights
And illuminates my way.
May God watch over you and bless you
As you have blessed me
With love, with grace
And with peace,
Amen.
