For Grandpa on his 89th Birthday
The seasons of your life were numbered by heaven.
In your Summer
you were endowed with the names of student, educator, husband and father.
In these times,
when your time was endless, there were many days and few worries.
The season was spent teaching and being taught by many cultures,
the world was your classroom and you traveled the earth.
The seasons of your life were numbered by heaven
and slowly
the season changed from Summer to Fall and you became Grandpa and Great Grandpa
and as the days passed, the worry mutliplied
until your only travels were the distance between your garden and a little room in the nursing home where your sweetheart waited.
Like frost on the meadow, we could see the signs of your Winter coming on.
As your children,
we hoped we could store up days against the season by worrying
about your heart, your balance and your driving.
We wanted you to stay.
The number of your days were known to the Lord.
But not to us.
How could those, who watched so closely the path you trod,
have ever guessed
that you, dear traveler
would get dressed in your Sunday best,
and on a winter's eve
walk quietly home to God
And claim eternal Spring.
In Loving Memory
Elliot Castleton Howe
March 2, 1920 - February 24, 2009
Que Dieu te benisse. Adieu cher pere, jusqu'au revoir
6 comments:
Kjirsten, that is BEAUTIFUL!!!! Seriously....so BEAUTIFUL!!!! I am so sorry for the loss of Elliot. We have been praying for the Howe family and hope you all are finding peace and comfort in the Gospel truths. I was thinking about how many of the H* family we associate with and love that are affected by his death. We are lucky to know such an incredible family for which Elliott is directly responsible for. We love you all!
You move me to tears. Thank you for sharing that with us.
Dale emailed me this. He was truly touched as was I. You have a gift with words.
Thank you for your beautiful tribute to Dad! You have captured the sacredness and significance of the past ten days. I will always treasure your words.
Kjirsten! I can barely read the bottom of it. You have such an incredible way of expressing such feelings. Thank you for sharing such an incredible poem. We will all miss Elliot terribly. What a dear man and example he was to all of us.
I love you
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