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 Part 2 and the following three posts to this site I share the ongoing 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 as you read all five parts of the story these poems tell.
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 a poem written a month and a half after she left us, a last ditch effort to hang onto my faith before a deep spiral into the despair ‘marker stone (*)’ of Confrontation (Entering the Depths)*, the second of grief’s cycles which led to my healing.
(*) See three posts immediately previous to this five-part
series for more information about the ‘marker stones’ of your healing journey.
A Father’s Hope
A grieving dad? Yes, he’s all of that
For sure and for all of the time;
That he waits for the call that brings him Home
To quote her these verses of rhyme.
Leila love, it’s hard down here
To live with this huge empty place;
Buried deep within your dad’s aching heart,
And the tears that still stain his face.
He knows the Creator had a special need
For someone with your flying skills;
It’s the only thing that gives him peace,
That you’re flying through Heavenly hills.
So as hard as it is to accept the fact
That you’re not here to laugh with and love,
Your dad sends these words to his lovely girl
Who’s gone on to the Kingdom above.
And it’s only right that he pens these words,
As time and eternity waits;
For the happy moment that’s coming one day
When he smiles from Eternity’s Gates.
It’s the hope; you see – the certainty clear –
That our spirits will touch one more time;
That heals the wounds of his broken heart,
As he waits for that moment sublime.
© 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
* The Cycles of Grief are derived from the book “Counseling
the Bereaved/Caregivers Handbook” by Laurell Hamilton, MSW, RSW and David
Masecar, MA.
• Enjoy this blog post? Get Free updates by email or RSS
• Need help or a consultation? Contact this Expert
• Share this post on your favorite bookmarking site
• Someone you know would like to read this? Email this blog to them