Photo by Grayscale Photography
Faith
Faith sees people
sweet and dear—
longs to hold them,
keep them near.
She hears voices
soft and gay—
sharing greetings,
then going away.
From a fallen world
she stands
and looks with faith
at distant lands.
Knowing saints
like Mary and Paul
await and beckon,
“Embrace God’s call.”
Soon, Faith arrives
at sight unseen—
touches memories,
walks in dreams,
feels the love,
drinks the sound
of Heaven’s praises—
all around
Earth’s problems, pains,
and some regrets—
are dwarfed by hope’s
expectations, met.
It heals, forgets,
forgives…sweet grace.
God’s generous favor
does Faith now face.
© 2015 gratefulsue
October 27, 2021
______________________________
What is the greatest challenge every person faces? I believe it is being ready to die. At any time. Will we stand on the doorstep to eternity with fear or with faith? With regret or with hope? I pondered this question, as I watched a friend of mine getting closer to death’s door. She was fighting a losing battle with cancer. We all knew her remaining time was short, as did she, down deep. But, in public, everyone talked positively about how she “would beat it.” Her real, given name, was Faith.
I love these words of Jesus in the Bible. Referring to himself as the Son of God, he says, “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” John 3:16 (NIV). What an amazing promise! I wanted to somehow help Faith make that transition to the other side. I gave her this poem and later she said, “It helped me more than you will ever know.” The poem still makes sense whether “Faith” is a particular person, or is interpreted as anyone’s faith, personified.