Ever since I heard the news of my friends husbands passing yesterday, I have been struggling to find the words to comfort her. Of course, there is the normal “My Condolences”, “My thoughts & prayers are with you and your family”…but I want to say more then that.
You see his was a sudden & very unexpected passing. He was not ill…he was a healthy man in his middle forties. No time for the family or friends to say their goodbyes. No preparation whatsoever. What do you say to someone when this happens? How do you get over the shock of something like that?
I found this poem tonight and eventually I will send it to her….just not sure “when” would be the best time. When is anytime a good time to bring something like death up when someone loses a loved one especially so suddenly.
What is dying?A ship sails and I stand watching
till she fades on the horizon,
and someone at my side
says, “She is gone”.
Gone where? Gone from my sight,
that is all; she is just as
large as when I saw her…
the diminished size and total
loss of sight is in me, not in her,
and just at the moment
when someone at my side
says “she is gone”, there are others
who are watching her coming,
and other voices take up the glad shout,
“there she comes!” …and that is
dying.
– Bishop Charles Henry Brent –
