My wife lost her father last night.
While we grieve this loss, we rejoice in his gain. Please pray for Wendy, her mother, her brothers, and all our children, as they face life without such a beloved husband, father, and grandfather.
My favorite poet of all time is John Donne. He was a passionate poet preacher. While some of his poems will make you blush, others make you think. One of the latter is “Holy Sonnet 10” which he wrote about our victory over death.
Holy Sonnet X
Death be not proud, though some have called thee
Mighty and dreadful, for thou art not so.
For those whom thou think’st thou dost overthrow,
Die not, poor death, nor yet canst thou kill me.
From rest and sleep, which but thy pictures be,
Much pleasure, then from thee, much more must flow.
And soonest our best men with thee do go,
Rest of their bones, and soul’s delivery.
Thou art slave to Fate, Chance, kings, and desperate men,
And dost with poison, war, and sickness dwell,
And poppy or charms can make us sleep as well,
And better than thy stroke. Why swell’st thou then?
One short sleep past, we wake eternally,
And death shall be no more. Death, thou shalt die.
~John Donne
Wendy’s father really was one of “our best men.” But death has won no victory here. We look forward to the day we see him again in eternity.
I am so very sorry for the loss, and also grateful for the witness, both of your father-in-law’s life and your witness to hope. May God comfort, console, sustain you and your family.
Thank you, Georgia. That means a lot.
very sorry to hear this, please give wendy my love
Jeremy, having known you only through fb for a few weeks, our spirits have known one another forever…I will pray.
Thank you everybody. I know that many of you have experienced something very similar.
Jeremy, please tell Wendy I was so sorry to hear the news…I will be praying that the God of peace will comfort you in these times. I only knew him for such a short time but I was so impressed with him and the father he was to Wendy. Praying for you all.
My deepest condolences to your family, Jeremy. It will undoubtedly be extra tough on Father’s Day next month. I will be praying for His comfort in your bereavement.
Thank you very much. Yes, Father’s day will be tough. He was going to take our daughters fishing.
So sorry to hear of your loss. We pray for you and your family. Have you written about you father-in-law somewhere? If not, would you be willing to share a few things about him?
Sam,
That might be a good idea. Part of me cringes about writing about him on a blog, but another part of me thinks that might be a good way to honor him. Let me ask my wife.
I’m so sorry….I know how hard this must be..