The Family Chain

Between ice storms this week, my brothers and I made a quick trip to West Texas where our family bid a temporary goodbye to our uncle Magel. He was a great family man who is much loved by his surviving wife of over 50 years, and by his son, daughters and many grand-kids. I had not seen many of them for decades, and others I actually met for the first time. He left a great legacy by faithfully passing on his Christian values to his family.

A few years ago, I wrote an article on the differing attitudes toward death of Christians as opposed to that of non-believers. It was certainly difficult to temporarily lose Magel, but was made somewhat easier by the fact that we are assured of seeing him again one day. We only buried Magel’s earthly body. His spirit is still alive in the presence of our Lord as he awaits his final resurrected body.

In the funeral program, the family included a poem written by Ron Tranmer who has published numerous encouraging and inspirational poems for many occasions. I’d like to share this poetry for all those who are missing family members and are looking forward to being together again.

Broken Chain
(revised version)

We little knew that day
God would call your name.
In life we loved you dearly.
In death we do the same.

It broke our hearts to lose you
but you didn’t go alone,
for a part of us went with you
the day God called you home.

We’re left with loving memories
of the time we had with you,
and feel your love around us
in everything we do.

Our family chain is broken
and our lives are not the same,
But as God calls us one by one
the chain will link again.