A Serious Poem About A Serious Certainty

At the beginning of this week one of my best friends bid good-bye to her dad, Amsey Bowman

Today we mourn the loss of my Uncle Myron Martin 

So much opportunity once again to contemplate the Inevitable Must of dust-to-dust!

"...before the dust returns to the ground from which it came,

and the spirit returns to God who gave it."

Eccles.12:7

Death is The Great Divider

Stealing loved ones from our touch

But God is a Greater Provider

And He loves us oh, so much

Death is a grim reminder

Of what waits for one and all

But God’s love is always kinder

Than Death, when it comes to call

Death keeps us humbly thankful

For life’s most commonplace day

God’s grace and mercy are faithful

No matter what comes our way…

Death keeps us gladder for gardens

For blue skies sprawled overhead

Daisy and clover-strewn meadows

Sunrise and sunset, bronze-red

Death makes us think about others

Before its kiss chills our brow

Let’s all be sisters and brothers

Love one another here-now

Death makes us hurt for the hurting

Who will be next; who can tell

Death makes us think about Heaven

Death makes us think about Hell

Death is a breath-stealing river

Death is That Last Stepping-stone

When Life is returned to its Giver

Where God is still on His throne

© Janet Martin

Eccles.12:1-7

 Remember your Creator in the days of your youth,

before the days of adversity come,

and the years approach of which you will say,

“I find no pleasure in them,”

2before the sunlight, moon, and stars are darkened,

and the clouds return after the rain,

3on the day the keepers of the house tremble,

and the strong men stoop,

when those grinding cease because they are few,

and those watching through windows see dimly,

4when the doors to the street are shut

and the sound of the mill fades away,

when one rises at the sound of a bird,

and all the daughters of song grow faint,

5when men fear the heights and dangers of the road,

when the almond tree blossoms,

the grasshopper loses its spring,

and the caper berry shrivels—

for then man goes to his eternal home,

and mourners walk the streets.

6Remember Him before the silver cord is snapped,

and the golden bowl is crushed,

before the pitcher is shattered at the spring,

and the wheel is broken at the well,

7before the dust returns to the ground from which it came,

and the spirit returns to God who gave it.