I'll Never Let Go of Your Hand

For my Pastor (my mother-in-law) during a particularly trying time many years ago.

As I knelt beside your bed last night

and you squeezed my hand in pain

I prayed “Lord, you must stop this,

she can’t endure again.”

And when I looked upon your grimaced face

a blade sliced through my soul,

“she can’t go on in this agony,

yet without her… where would we go?”

 

I know you’re tired, you’re ready to quit

but how can we send you on?

It must be you who leads the Bride

when the Bridegroom calls us home

The fight you’ve fought has been good indeed

and your course now, almost done

So each day I pray “give me her pain,

let me bear it for I’m her son.”

 

Though it’s true we’ve learned to stand alone

and call down blessings from above

I’ve watched you pray with your flock…

no one else can match your love.

That altar is your workplace

the pulpit, your hallowed realm.

The insight, the vision, yours alone

who else could lead us to higher ground?

 

So again I pray “God if healing is mine

then work through me just now…

But if not me, then someone else

it doesn’t matter how.”

The purpose? The reason? I can’t understand

though it must be part of His plan

But shepherd if you go, I’m going too

I’ll never let go of your hand.

Author's Note

The photo shows her on the set of the first play I ever wrote. It was about her quilt you see in the background and a look ahead at the impact she'll have on the next generation to serve God in the church she has dedicated her life to nurturing and leading into the greater depths in God. It was pretty cool...

Reviews

[Clarisse Nanoit]

Very vivid pictures this poem paints. I love it. It's so sweet. If this is any indication of how great of a writer you are, I have a lot more reading to do.
KH

[James K. Blaylock]

Wow, this was so wonderful indeed. It truly is a gift caring so deeply for people, and using this gift is a glory in itself. Most people nowadays only care for themselves, we get caught up in all of the madness within this world, sadly. Faith and love allow us to see the bigger picture.

jkb

[J]

I have read this and have had to come back to it so many times ... I know of whom you speak, of course, and the emotion of this piece is so staggering that not only does it take my breath away, it takes my words away, as well. You honour us beyond with your heart and your talent to share it. Thank you for this.

[Marquise]

wow, the pain of loss is heavy to deal with, but I think the process of the loss is much harder, very sad but great write. I hope some release came for you within the lines of your poem...