PRAYER OF REMEMBRANCE

I went down to the local cemetery last evening, what a lovely evening it was. I took some flowers to my parents grave. There were many lovely spring flowers on the surrounding graves. Kingsley cemetery is surrounded by fields and opposite the church, the birds were singing merrily. As I wandered around I found names of many I had known and loved throughout the years.  I thought this remembrance prayer quite apt for today.

In the rising of the sun and in its going down, we remember them. 

In the blowing of the wind and in the chill of winter;

In the opening of buds and in the rebirth of spring;

In the blueness of the sky and in the warmth of summer;

In the rustling of leaves and in the beauty of autumn

In the beginning of the year and when it ends;

When we are weary and in the need of strength;

When we are lost and sick at heart;

When we have joys we yearn to share, we remember them.

So long as we live, they too shall live,

for they are now a part of us, as we remember them.

When my parents died within a very short time of one another I wondered about life after death and then realised that as they were both Christians and if I truly believe that Christ rose from the dead and was seen by many of his followers then there is hope for us all of a life after this. Christ said "Fear not, I go to prepare a place for you so that where I am there might you be also". Many now believe that this is the only life we have but I believe our journey here will lead to something more. One of the verses of a well known old hymn said:

When I soar to World's unknown

See Thee on Thy Judgement throne;

Rock of Ages, cleft for me

Let me hide myself in Thee.

Our walk continued from the cemetery across fields to a lovely lane called Depmore Lane where we again crossed a field into Dark Lane and back along the stream path known as the Nab, crossed the stream at the bottom of the garden and home. A beautiful evening, we only met one other human.