After a long hard battle with C.O.P.D. my mom died last night.
There isn't a heck of a lot I can say right now. She was one tough lady and what ever I am or will be is the result of her teachings and example. I was very lucky to have had her as a big part of my life.
The following words have given me a great deal of comfort these days.
I am standing upon the seashore. A ship at my side spreads her white sails to the morning breeze and starts for the blue ocean. She is a 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 and hull and spar as she was when she left my side and she is just as able to bear the load of living freight to her destined port.
Her diminished size is in me, not in her. And just at the moment when someone at my side says: "There, she is gone!" There are other eyes watching her approach and other voices ready to take up the glad shout:"Here she comes!"
And that is dying.
Henry Van Dyke
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
6 comments:
My thoughts and prayers are with you, Bev and the rest of the family.
That is absolutley lovely, and now I need to go find a couple of tissues.
Prayers are heading your way.
My sincerest condolences, man. I've got nothing to say to make it any better or that doesn't sound cliche' at a time like this. Just know I'm thinking about ya'll, and I'm sending prayers.
Thanks guys,
Tough days, but we will get through it.
Very beautiful post. My condolences and prayers go out to you and your family. Hang in there.
Michael,
My most sincere condolences, sir. I'm sorry I'm so late in seeing this. The Van Dyke passage was shared with me when my Dad passed - and I too found and still find great comfort in those words.
Prayers still offered up...
Post a Comment