My father is dying.
There is no denying
The signs.
They're definitely
There.

Just how soon?
We do not know.
Next week?
Tomorrow?
Or two or three more days?

Can we help him
With diet
Or herbs or pills?
No.
We cannot cure
His current ills.

His time is near
It is clear
As his breathing
Becomes more rapid
As his heart beats faster
And other functions
Of his body of clay
Slow down.
He's smaller and frailer
Although he tries,
To act normally
Before loving eyes.

May Jesus,
Help us.
As we'd rather deny
What we see with our eyes.
But there's no denying
It's ever on our minds.
We wish it were different,
Only because;
We want him to stay.
We'll miss him so.

'Tis but selfishness
In our hearts though,
That would wish him to stay
Longer in this world
Full of sorrow and illness.
For heaven
Is a much better place
With no sickness
Or sorrow there.
No tears or pain.
How can we wish
To keep him here?
When he has so
Much more to gain?
By crossing that river
Of death?

Oh what grace and what mercy,
The Lord's given now.
For our family
To be all together now.
To surround him
With love
And with care.

We're here
For each other
By God's loving grace.
We lean on the Lord together
In our weakness and grief.
And thank God for brothers
And sisters in faith.

We know
We are prayed for.
How thankful we are.
The Lord is our strength
And comfort these hours.
He guides our footsteps
Our decisions, our days.
And pray His name
Will be glorified.
Through our grief and our joy.
Through our comfort and pain.

May all those who are with us,
Those living beside us.
Those near in heart,
Though the miles intervene.
Be comforted also.
As we are comforted.
With the assurance of life.
Through Jesus, our Saviour.
Who died so that we.
Eternal life, may obtain!

For this hope,
I know, my father rests in.
And as we believe
One day we shall
Again see him
With our Saviour!

Ann and I

We were very tiny

When we first became aware.

That we were both together

Beneath our mother’s heartbeat there.

Safe within her womb

We discovered together;

How we could move our arms,

Wave our hands,

Suck our thumbs,

Bounce and flip and swim.

We could hear Mommy and Daddy

And our brothers and sister, too,

In this warm and cozy home.

Side by side we grew

Nestled safe in our mother’s womb.

We played together

And slept together.

Side by side we grew

Til we didn’t have much room.

We snuggled together,

And struggled together

In that cramped little space.

The time came to be born.

There was not enough room,

In the womb

Anymore.

Time to see our Mommy,

Time to meet our Daddy,

Sister, brothers, and everybody.

The squeezing, it grew stronger,

As closer came my birth.

I was first born

Then looked for her to come.

I wanted her beside me

As she’d always been.

It seemed she always should be

Close to me.

“Come with me.”

“Come with me.”

But she didn’t come.

No, she didn’t come.

Her spirit departed instead

And left her little body dead.

My dear sister, closer to me

Than anyone on earth.

You left me.

I wanted you to stay,

Beside me where you’d always been

And it seemed you always should be.

I thought we would meet

Mommy and Daddy together.

Side by side we’d grow;

We’d play together

And sleep together.

Side by side we’d grow;

Meet the world together

And learn of life together.

Side by side we’d know;

We’d always have each other.

But you left me.

Where did you go?

I really miss you so!

Why did you go?

I’m so lonely without you!

Will I ever see you again?

“Oh yes you will, you know,

For I have gone to Jesus.

And I see you know Him, too.

I ask Him every day

To lead and guide you on your way,

So you can come with me someday.

Come with me.

Come with me to this blessed place.

Come see our dear Saviour’s face.”

Just why He chose for me to come

And you to stay

I cannot say.

Come ask Him someday.

Meanwhile remember He is there for you;

You’re not alone:

He cares for you.

He sees your tears.

He feels your fears.

He will comfort,

He will strengthen,

He will lead and guide you.”

My life was touched by sorrow

From the day of my birth.

Truly though,

He does show

What she somehow let me know;

He’s there for me.

He cares for me,

Comforts me

Dries my tears,

Strengthens me,

Stills my fears,

He leads me,

And guides me

Every step of my way.

Someday I will go,

I will see her.

My twin sister.

With my Saviour. ♥

(c) Cara Niska 2008