~Mother Poem~

Today was the day of the funeral of a dear, sweet woman, Caroline. She is one of the sweetest women I have ever met. A real "Lady." She will be greatly missed by all who knew her.

Our family hosted the dinner, following the service, for Caroline's family. I know that some of ya'll have asked about this custom and I will try to answer your questions. Sometimes a church will host the dinner but if there is no church that is available then a close friend will offer to host it. This dinner is held after the funeral services to help everyone get nourishment physically, spiritually and sometimes financially if needed. The dinner can be held in some one's home, a social center or church building. The dinner is usually only for family members and very close friends. This helps many people who have traveled from far away. It's a good way to show the family that you care about them and are there for support.



Following is a poem that I received recently and I passed it along to Caroline's Daughter, Amy. This poem can be a blessing to Mothers and Daughters alike. It is the walk of life we make.



MOTHER

The young mother set her foot on the path of life. "Is this the long way?" she asked. And the guide said:
"Yes, and the way is hard. And you will be old before you reach the end of it.. But the end will be better than the beginning."
But the young mother was happy, and she would not believe that anything could be better than these years.
So she played with her children, and gathered flowers for them along the way, and bathed them in the clear streams;
and the sun shone on them, and the young Mother cried,"Nothing will ever be lovelier than this.." Then the night came, and the storm, and the path was dark, and the children shook with fear and cold, and the
mother drew them close and covered them with her mantle, and
the children said,
"Mother, we are not afraid, for you are near, and no harm
can come." And the morning came, and there was a hill ahead, and the children climbed and grew weary, and the mother was
weary.But at all times she said to the children," A little patience
and we are there."So the children climbed, and when they reached the top they said, "Mother, we would not have done it without you." And the mother, when she lay down at night looked up at the stars and said, "This is a better day than the last,
for my children have learned fortitude in the face of
hardness.
Yesterday I gave them courage. Today, I 've given them strength." And the next day came strange clouds which darkened the earth, clouds of war and hate and evil, and the
children groped and stumbled, and the mother said:
"Look up. Lift your eyes to the light. " And the children looked and saw above the clouds an everlasting glory, and it guided them beyond the darkness. And that night the Mother said, "This is the best day of all, for I have shown my children God."
And the days went on, and the weeks and the months
and the years, and the mother grew old and she was
little and bent.But her children were tall and strong, and walked with courage. And when the way was rough, they lifted her, and at last they came to
a hill, and beyond they could see a shining road and golden
gates flung wide. And mother said, "I have reached the end
of my journey. And now I know the end is better than the beginning, for my children can walk alone, and their children after them." And the children said, "You will always walk with us,Mother, even when you have gone through the gates."And they stood and watched her as she went on alone,
and the gates closed after her. And they said: "We cannot
see her but she is with us still.
A Mother like ours is more than a memory.
She is a living presence........" Your Mother is always with you..... She's the whisper of the leaves as you walk down the street; she's the smell
of bleach in your freshly laundered socks; she's the cool
hand on your brow when you're not well. Your Mother
lives inside your laughter.
And she's crystallized in every tear drop.She's the place you came from, your first home; and she's the map you follow with every step you take.
She's your first love and your first heartbreak,
and nothing on earth can separate you.Not time, not space... not even death!



Hugs & Blessings,

~Katherine~
Post A Comment