"Gone"

They go and we can’t stop it,

They finally slip away,

As my lifetime passes,

I see it more each day.

I look through those old photos,

Good horses that I rode,

And think there’s not one living,

‘Cept in memory I suppose.

I see me holding babies,

And those grandbabies, too,

Seems like only yesterday,

But it’s been years, it’s true.

And I’ll attend a funeral,

And there it is again,

Those videos and photos,

Of what their life has been.

I wonder which of the photos,

They’ll put there when I go,

So many that I treasure,

They’ll be too much to show.

I think how did this happen,

How did I get this old,

I paid it no attention,

Full story’s not yet told.

But closer to conclusion,

Than I have ever been,

Gone father, mother, sister,

Their lives came to an end.

But don’t think I am sordid,

Or focused on what’s bad,

I just can’t help but think about,

The life that I have had.

 It’s best to hold with open hand,

The time the Good Lord gives,

And realize His presence,

It’s what helps us to live.

Forgive and be forgiven,

Let go of life’s mistakes,

Especially forgive yourself,

Move on, for goodness sake.

Savor every blessing,

Don’t let the sadness steal,

What brings us our enjoyment,

Of everything that’s real.

And know life is not measured,

By what is gained or lost,

But by our faith in Jesus,

And counting up the cost.

Of living every moment,

Our lives from day to day,

Committed to the Savior,

And what He has to say.

Abundant life, eternal,

Starts in the here and now,

Maximize the moment,

And He will show us how.

Memories and daydreams,

And all those gone before,

Are all part of the history,

That opens our next door.

Gone, yes some have gone there,

And we will soon be gone,

But there’s no need for sadness,

For God gives us His song.

“I have written this to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, so that you may know that you have eternal life…” (1 John 5:13, NLT)

Life is a mystery is so many ways, and seems to move faster as it unfolds. As we get older, we are tempted to measure life in terms of what we have lost. Lost time, money, relationships, health, opportunities, etc. But God does not want us to evaluate life based on what is gone, gained or lost. God measures and evaluates life based on our relationship to Jesus. Knowing Jesus, receiving from Jesus, and allowing Jesus to live through us is what’s it all about. Eternal life is knowing Him and being in a relationship with Him that begins in our earthly years but never ends in eternity. If we could really see life from the other side we would never let our sadness overwhelm us. Why? Because where we are going is so much more beautiful than where we have been. Gone, because of Jesus, is good.

Lord, fill our lives with a strong sense of eternal, spiritual significance, in Jesus’ name.

Art by Tim Cox, timcox.com. Used by permission. Thanks, Tim, and God bless you.