Every single death that occurs brings loss, grief and bereavement to someone who loved or cared for that individual, and its significance never can or should be discounted in its impact and meaning to those suffering and finding healing from its effects.
Yet the death of a child – grown or otherwise – carries a burden of grieving for a parent which exceeds all human boundaries of comprehension or understanding at the time of its happening, and involves enduring a grieving and healing path unique among the losses to be experienced by mankind.
In this and the following four posts to this site I’ll be sharing a story of grieving the death of a grown child – in poetic form – and allow you the readers to experience its journey through grief to find healing. It’s a prayer of my heart that you will be touched and encouraged by its ever growing message of hope.
Her name was Leila Gray (Brennan), a 26 year old helicopter pilot at the time of her death, and she was my own beloved daughter.
This was the poem written for her funeral day, and in its topic involves a gift of grace (a ‘found’ feather) given to help us as parents endure the day – and find hope for its aftermath.
The Feather
We picked up a feather the other day
That lay on the floor at our feet;
And in it we saw the wings of flight
Of Leila, our daughter Sweet.
A feather, you know, is an amazing thing;
It lifts each bird to the sky;
To soar the heavens and sail the winds
That raise their wings on high.
Leila was like them, always full
Of the delight that flying would bring;
As she fixed her sights on the sky above
And the song that chopper blades sing.
She was feisty, determined, and sure of her skill,
A professional fully aware;
Just like the feathers that fuel the flight
Of one who is born to the air.
She had dreams, and goals, and lofty aims
To propel her into the sky;
And it is not our place to question that,
Or ever to wonder why.
The gift of flight is given to few,
The heavens are their domain;
So when one feather falls from the sky
Our grief is hard to contain.
Yet Leila, our loved and precious one
Would be the first to say:
“Lift up your hearts and look at me –
I’m just flying in a different way”
“I earned my wings upon this earth;
I so loved it, and did my best.
Now I’m flying in Heaven’s Halls,
For He said I had earned my rest.”
“And the Kingdom of Heaven – I’m here to say –
Is a place where everyone sings;
And God in His mercy and shining Love
Has given me heavenly wings.”
“So go from this place with peace in your hearts;
My days on earth are fulfilled.
I sent the feather for my parents to find
So you’d know I was flying still.”
…And the feather was gray…just like her last name…
© M. Kenneth Matthies
With Love and Understanding
Ken Matthies
HeartSpun Posts from the Crucible of Experience
For more information about Stages of Grief / Healing your Grief visit http://www.kenmatthies.com
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Comments (2)
this was really touching and helpful. you really understand what people go thru with the loss of a loved one. your blogs help. thanks
Thanks Susan for your comment - it validates the reason I'm doing these blogs...to be of help.