I Am Standing on the Sea Shore
I am standing on the sea shore,
A ship sails in the morning breeze and starts for the ocean.
She is an object of beauty and I stand watching her
Till at last she fades on the horizon and someone at my side says:
“She is gone.”
She is an object of beauty and I stand watching her
Till at last she fades on the horizon and someone at my side says:
“She is gone.”
Gone! Where?
Gone from my sight – that is all.
She is just as large in the masts, hull and spars as she was when I saw her
And just as able to bear her load of living freight to its destination.
The diminished size and total loss of sight is in me,
not in her.
Gone from my sight – that is all.
She is just as large in the masts, hull and spars as she was when I saw her
And just as able to bear her load of living freight to its destination.
The diminished size and total loss of sight is in me,
not in her.
And just at the moment when someone at my side says,
“She is gone”,
There are others who are watching her coming, and other voices take up a glad shout:
“There she comes”
– an that is dying.
“She is gone”,
There are others who are watching her coming, and other voices take up a glad shout:
“There she comes”
– an that is dying.
Bishop Brent
1862 – 1926
1862 – 1926
Some of you may be facing the death of a loved one and I found this poem to be encouraging. I hope you do, too. Walking down the path of death with a loved one is difficult. Our God in His love gives us the comfort we need to make it through this difficult journey that is hard to understand on this side of our lives. Thankfully Jesus comforts us with these words;
John 14:1-4 ~ “Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God, trust also in me. In my Father’s house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am.”
More words of comfort;
Psalm 48:14 ~For this God is our God forever and ever; he will be our guide even to the end.
Psalm 23: 4 ~ Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.
Psalm 73:23-24 ~ Yet I am always with you; you hold me by my right hand. You guide me with your counsel, and afterward you will take me into glory.
John 11:25-26 ~ Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?”
May we all look to and cling to the Hope that will carry us through to the end.
Thank-you. It is getting close to a year ago when my husband and I started the journey of cancer,which led to his home going.I needed this reminder today.
ReplyDeleteTHANK YOU!!!! blessings, Flavia
ReplyDeleteThis week I heard Beth Moore on a video compare 'dying' to unzipping and stepping out of overalls: never for a moment ceasing to be, but just shedding the outer shell of temporary clothing.
ReplyDeleteMy mom went to be with the Lord 5 months ago and I am very comforted that her spirit is alive and well and enjoying the presence of the Lord.
Love this poem! My husband died just over a year ago now.
ReplyDeleteI have just sent this wonderful post to a dear friend of mine who has just said Goodbye to his Grandma. Thank you. We never know how far the ripples of our efforts will go. You have touched so many with this. Thank you.
ReplyDeleteI had never before read the piece by Bishop Brent, "I am standng on the sea shore". It is so very moving and is the core of my faith. Thank you so much for sharing. Marcia in Minnesota
ReplyDeleteI just came across your blog.
ReplyDeleteI lost my mother almost 7 months ago.(the 9th. of this month marks 7 months)
This poem I am standing on the sea shore was on her remembrance card.
I don't believe we could have found anyhting more beautiful and fitting.Blessings,Becky