Resurrection

I came across this poem today in a prayer book I'm reading.

Resurrection

Long, long, long ago;
Way before this winter’s snow
First fell upon these weathered fields;
I used to sit and watch and feel
And dream of how the spring would be,
When through the winter’s stormy sea
She’d raise her green and growing head,
Her warmth would resurrect the dead.

Long before this winter’s snow
I dreamt of this day’s sunny glow
And thought somehow my pain would pass
With winter’s pain, and peace like grass
Would simply grow. (But) The pain’s not gone.
It’s still as cold and hard and long
As lonely pain has ever been,
It cuts so deep and fear within.

Long before this winter’s snow
I ran from pain, looked high and low
For some fast way to get around
Its hurt and cold. I’d have found,
If I had looked at what was there,
That things don’t follow fast or fair.
That life goes on, and times do change,
And grass does grow despite life’s pains.

Long before this winter’s snow
I thought that this day’s sunny glow,
The smiling children and growing things
And flowers bright were brought by spring.
Now, I know the sun does shine,
That children smile, and from the dark, cold, grime
A flower comes. It groans, yet sings,
And through its pain, its peace begins.
---Mary Ann Bernard

My relationship with my mother has often been difficult, frequently characterized by pain we are causing one another. The past few weeks, we have together mourned the death of a beloved dog that has been a part of our family for many years. Memories of his life are tied to many other memories of happier times in the life of my family. Much pain has surfaced. For me,and I think for my mother as well, more than just his death has been mourned. But out of that pain and death, something beautiful has been growing. The love my mother and I share has been given new life.

Thanks be to God for the hope we have in the Resurrection.