This poem by Emily Dickinson surprised me by expressing clearly how I have felt about the gospel since losing Benjamin. It helps me understand the WHY. I have always appreciated the gospel, and the beautiful doctrine of eternal families, but I don't think any of us appreciate it fully until it is applied specifically to our family--when a brother, a mother, a son has died. "To comprehend a nectar Requires sorest need."
SUCCESS.
Success is counted sweetest
By those who ne'er succeed.
To comprehend a nectar
Requires sorest need.
Not one of all the purple host
Who took the flag to-day
Can tell the definition,
So clear, of victory,As he, defeated, dying,
On whose forbidden ear
The distant strains of triumph
Break, agonized and clear!
5 comments:
I understand how you feel. I've always had a place in my heart for my sister Tiffany who died 25 years ago. Also, since James died a year ago, I think about him daily. It's something that you will always think about. I want to live a good life so I can be with them someday! I know that's what you want with Benjamin too! You're in my thoughts and prayers.
Thank you, Stephanie. You must miss James so much! It helps me to know that Tiffany still has a place in your heart as well--one of my greatest fears is "forgetting" about Benjamin, or somehow not loving him so much after many years have passed. The "definition of victory" is so clear to us who now feel the sting of defeat and look to the Savior to bring "the distant strains of triumph" close to us. How wonderful it will be for us to be all together again!
Very thought-provoking sentiments, Michelle. Thank you for sharing. I appreciated your comments too, Stephanie. I miss Tiffany and James too. Someday we will all be together again. I can hardly wait!
And we will know the sweet, after tasting the bitterness of separation. It only gets better with the joy of eternal reunion.
Michelle, do you care if I share you sentiments with others in a similar situation? I thought I would go through and compile them all into one file. Let me know!
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