When We Lose A Child or Parent

Representative Text

When we lose a child or parent,
husband dear, a wife, a friend,
there are painful, empty places
in our hearts until life's end.

Though we learn to go on living,
no one takes a loved one's place.
Is this loneliness a curse, God,
or a blessed gift of grace?

Look into these empty places
at our hidden feelings, fears;
free us, God, from guilt and anger,
and release love's healing tears.

Lead us to recall with laughter
happy times with loved ones lost,
find the joy of loving others
worth the pain that it has cost.

Let the love we shared together
give us comfort, ease our pain,
that one day we may awaken
to your rainbow in the rain.

Thank you, God, for empty places
in our lives when loved ones die,
for they keep us still connected
as the days and years pass by.

Author: Mary Nelson Keithahn

Mary Nelson Keithahn, a retired United Church of Christ ordained pastor and church educator, has been a curriculum writer-editor, journalist, and lyricist for musical dramas and anthems. She still works out of her home in Rapid City, South Dakota, as a free-lance writer. In 2016 she published Elfie: Adventures on the Midwest Frontier, a chapter book for children, and Embracing the Light: Reflectioins on God’s Holy Word, a collection of meditations for individual or small group use. Augsburg Fortress also published Sing the Stories of God’s NEW People, the third in a trilogy of Bible story-based collections of songs for young children, written with her longtime colleague, John D. Horman. The two have written over a hundred hymns togethe… Go to person page >

Text Information

First Line: When we lose a child or parent,
Title: When We Lose A Child or Parent
Author: Mary Nelson Keithahn (1998)
Meter: 8.7.8.7
Source: Time Now to Gather
Language: English
Notes: Alternate tune:SERVANT SONG

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Time Now to Gather #5

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