As we look forward to saying goodbye to our brother in Christ next Friday we, of course, cling to the promise of eternal life for all those that believe in Jesus (John 6:47) and as Paul said, we grieve with hope (1 Thessalonians 4:13)!
Of course the passing of a beloved member of our body ought to remind us of our own own mortality. Causing us to appreciate again the gift of salvation bought with the blood of Christ and secured by faith alone; but I for one, would also like to be remembered well; and to that end, I offer you this poem I found stashed away in my files. It’s dated “1992” but sounds a bit older than that, still I think it’s worth a minute or two of your contemplation.
It isn’t the thing you do;
It’s the thing you leave undone,
Which gives you a bit of heartache
At the setting of the sun.
The tender word forgotten,
The letter you did not write,
The flower you might have sent,
Are your haunting ghosts tonight.
The stone you might have lifted
Out of a brother’s way,
The bit of heartsome counsel
You were harried too much to say.
The loving touch of the hand,
The gentle winsome tone,
That you had no time or tho’t for
With troubles enough of your own.
The little acts of kindness
So easily out of mind;
Those chances to be helpful
Which everyone may find.
No, it’s not the things you do,
It’s the thing you leave undone
Which gives you the bit of heartache
At the setting of the sun.
Pastor Scott
Grace Notes 