I am so thankful for family and friends who were able to attend my mother’s graveside memorial service yesterday. I had selected a pastor for the service; but, as it turned out, he was not feeling well enough to attend. Yet in God’s wisdom and plan, the funeral director asked me to give Mom’s eulogy since I knew her best. And though I forgot some important parts I’d wanted to share, it became a much more memorable and special service to me, and to all who attended from comments shared.

So, I’d like to share a poem and reflection written several years ago which I closed with yesterday, but which is fitting for each one of us with losses of family and friends. For us since the end of May, it’s been the loss of several close friends, a sister-in-law, several cousins, and now my mother. For losses you have suffered, may you feel God’s comforting presence with peace in your heart… for the love you once shared will live on forever in your heart and in treasured memories.

It seems that at every holiday and family event there’s an empty chair.  We all have one... or more.  It’s where our special loved one(s) always sat.  Actually, we can still visualize them sitting there, sharing our love and laughter.  But, it’s all just a memory now... sometimes hazier than we’d like.

Memories are good from this perspective, even if tinged with a bit of sadness.  There are memories of fun and happy times... of laughter at the world’s best jokes told only the way they could… and countless days of childhood fun – before technology spoiled the best in our games of imagination.  Memories of when our children were infants… as we moms nursed our precious babies, rocking them to sleep…  And yes, memories of tears shed… as dads cuddled their little one crying from hurts - physical or emotional.  If only that old rocker in the corner could talk… all the stories it would share!

It also seems that many of our memories of days long ago are laced with the beauty and simplicity we now miss in the busy rush of life.  So, sit quietly in the empty chair, and take time to think about all that once was when our special loved one was here among us… and remember their beautiful life. 

The Empty Chair

Linda A. Roorda 

The empty chair that quietly waits
Once held a life in arms of love
A life of joy and busy fun
But now stands mute in days of silence.

The one who sat upon its wood
Once held a wee and precious babe
To gently rock away the tears
And soothe aside the anxious fears.

The empty chair has heard it all
From shaking sobs to rolling laughs
And then it listened once again
To all the stories read aloud.

The empty chair in silent years
Will keep its secrets evermore
Of dreams and hopes and plans and sighs
Of each who sat upon its lap.

The empty chair has heard the pleas
In earnest prayers of burdened hearts
Like gentle sighs to God above
For Him to guide those it once held.

The empty chair now brings to mind
The love of those who graced our lives
Who’ve left behind sweet memories
Tenderly held forever in love.

~~

08/19/13