On the cover, in black and white, is the photo of a crinkle-faced, toothless old man. Inside is this salutation: “You had better pray that you are as young as you feel and not as old as you look! – Love, Mary :) ”
Funny Mary.
Mary’s gone.
At least from here.
That void aches.
I think of her. And cry.
Separation hurts.
Death’s old cuts are bleeding fresh.
I’m pondering pain and justice.
Coaxing hope from the chaos of grief.
Cultivating joy in the seedbed of faith.
Still, I long for more of that beautiful life.
For more of Mary.
More of her laughter and jokes.
Her pranks and her pizza.
Her finely-feathered costume halo and mischievous smile.
I’ll miss her sipping coffee from a Victorian teacup.
Perching tiptoed on a step stool to fetch reams of paper.
Sprinting through the hall to answer a ringing phone.
Hard-working Mary.
I have books on my shelf.
Books from Mary.
Old books. Wonderful books.
Her husband’s books.
Thumbing through their pages, I glean Mary’s love.
I am humbled. Honored. Unworthy. Grateful.
Wonderful gifts.
Thank you, Mary.
Death is a robber.
A felonious creep that steals our best treasures.
He took our Mary – and not very nicely.
Jerk.
But Mary’s just fine.
Better than ever, really.
Rested. Satisfied. Complete.
Alive!
Her earthly song reverberates.
It is lovely.
And we sing for her, as she renews her precious marital grip.
Basks in faith’s realization.
And meets the gaze of her greatest love.
Well done, Sweet Mary.
Mary’s life verse: “I want to know Christ—yes, to know the power of his resurrection and participation in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, and so, somehow, attaining to the resurrection from the dead.” (Philippians 3:10–11, NIV)
No comments:
Post a Comment