Hymn for the Recently Deceased Mother

Mother arrived "at her grave riped with many good years, like sheaves of golden grain at harves." (cf. Job 5:26). In a little while, we shall pay mother our last respects and lay her earthly remains in a tomb. Where her spirit is now, the "sun shall no more go down." (cf. Isaiah 60:20). As there is no evening to follow in God's dwelling place, only one sacred high Sun of Righteousness.

-- last paragraph of my eulogy delivered on 2 March 2013.



Rest, weary head!
Lie down to slumber in the peaceful tomb;
Light from above has broken through its gloom:
Here, in the place where once thy Saviour lay,
Where He shall wake thee on a future day,
Like a tired child upon its mother's breast,
Rest, sweetly rest!

Rest, spirit free!
In the green pastures of the heavenly shore,
Where sin and sorrow can approach no more,
With all the flock by the Good Shepherd fed,
Beside the streams of life eternal led,
For ever with thy God and Saviour blest,
Rest, sweetly rest!

-- From a Hymn by Jane Laurie Borthwick (1813-1897)