Ecclesiastes 7:2 It is better to go to a funeral than a feast. For death is the destiny of every person, and the living should take this to heart. 3 Sorrow is better than laughter, because sober reflection is good for the heart. 4 The heart of the wise is in the house of mourning, but the heart of fools is in the house of merrymaking.
It was but another mercy you all showed us yesterday in being with us in our grief. Thank you.
Words for Bella
A gift from her daddy on the day of her service of hopeful mourning
When first we saw you in veiled mist
Our eyes did squint, “Could it be this?”
We’d never dreamed you’d come our way
Surprising us to break forth one day
We watched you grow; we drew our dreams
A vision of trio in our eyes did gleam
And then a stare, a pause perplexed
What could it be, inside we vexed
A burden deep inside your chest
A thing that would not give you rest
A pox, a strife to be overcome
A fight that needed to be won
And then the battle did begin
For life, for Hope that lie within
We massed an army of heaven and earth
To fight this fight, to show your worth
And valiantly did your frame contend
As we your admirers did you defend
Until you broke forth into our world
In all your wonder you were unfurled
And soon we knew, you knew before
A burden deeper for which we could do no more
And so you glanced off this terrestrial ball
Into fearful and wonderful Hands did you fall
This day we mourn; we want you back
Though where you are you have no lack
So breathe, our darling, dance and sing
We’ll see you when He comes—the Lamb, the King
4 comments
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December 22, 2007 at 10:16 am
sethandkristen
Thank you for sharing this with us. We wished so badly we could have been with you yesterday and have been checking the blog to see how the service went. We pray that you were overwhelmed by love and that you continue to receive love and support from those around you. We have been amazed by your strength and vulnerability through this season.
What a beautiful poem you wrote for Bella. I will forever envision her dancing and singing in heaven. What a precious little princess. I can’t wait to meet her in heaven.
love, Kristen
December 22, 2007 at 4:13 pm
Douglas Jordan
“And when he had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each holding a harp, and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints.”
Patrick, Christy, Seamus, and Savannah, we pray for you. Remember that Isabella prays for you, too.
December 24, 2007 at 11:34 am
Brad
I have had the supremely unpleasant experience of watching young men die after every known & available “heroic measure” has failed. You sometimes get numbed to it as you go through all your various algorithms (if this, then do that..) but you are never truly numbed enough. And if you ever do get numbed enough its probably time to find another job. Every time we had an Iraqi child brought to us it was horrifying because you’d see in that child’s place your own.
In a hellish place far far from Dallas I accepted a demonic lie as divine premonition that my own life was destined to end. My confusion and anger and sadness at not ever seeing my children and their mother nearly destroyed me.
PRL and JLL –along with Chaplain Bey and my Combat Stress Control pal (who’s ordained in his civ life)saved me from surrendering to my worst fears. I didnt have to face “the long dark night of the soul” alone.
I stand with you in your grief. I thank you for loving me and loving Bella. May He use this bereavemt to equip you to console and reach others (who are at this time unknown to either of us) who will in the future face a similar event.
As He lovingly embraces her so may you too be embraced
January 12, 2008 at 12:02 pm
Brenda Hudson
Had Don and I believed we could have kept our composure long enough to speak when the mike was open at Bella’s furneral we would have shared the following. “Just some 82 days before (Dec.21) our daughter stood where Bella lays. She, like Bella, was surrounded by flowers and adorned in a white gown. Ready to join her bridegroom. There was a beauty that filled Gods house that day. Not one as a result of wedding planning but that of the Lord’s. And there is a beauty that fills God’s house today. Not a result of man’s planning but that of the Lord’s. And more beautiful that that wedding day is this day, where Bella stands complete with her eternal bridegroom. Oh, to behold what she beholds.”
…Better the house of morning…indeed.