Not Farewell but Godspeed

Tonight we bid you Godspeed, not farewell

Our dear children, Trista, Cherice and Maachelle

For farewell connotes we might wait for you in vain

But Godspeed implies you will come to us again.

With great admiration we have watched you grow,

And now with mixed feelings we must let you go,

’Tis God Who decides the path you must take

And no doubt has directed the choice you must make.

Life is filled with occasions like these

Tonight’s not just one but they’re going in threes

And what can we do but simply resign

To the will of the Father and not to ours incline?

’Twas only but yesterday you were babes in arms

No thought of leaving us, oh, no such alarms

But today has come with mighty great haste

Thank God your lives have not been a waste.

For hitherto hath the Lord helped you

In His unfailing way as only He can do,

Not one of you would He ever cast aside

He will always be your Saviour, Lord and Guide.

These words I have written to bring us cheer

That rescues the yearning heart from despair,

No doubt we will miss you each and every day

But you will be etched in our hearts ever there to stay.

Maachelle, we will miss your singing and piano skills,

Cherice, what will we do without your dramatic thrills?

Trista, no more chocolates and sweets for a while to come

Now we’ll have to pull our pockets if ever we need some.

The Sunday school will miss you and so too the youth

This writer will miss you and that is the truth,

Your households will miss you greatest of all

But all appreciate that this is God’s call.

Remember this injunction?  It was "Taylor-made"

Recently from Lodge Road platform this was the grade

That education without God is not His design

For if He is not in it then it is a waste of time.

So Cherice, Maachelle and Trista

Your names are like music, “nuff respect to yuh”,

Endure to the end and reap your reward

Success is certain as long as Jehovah is your Lord.

Daddies and Mummies, sisters and brothers too,

Relatives and friends this is for all of you,

Here’s a little truth I want you to understand

That all we love we ought to hold loosely in our hand.

The reason sooner or later to us will be

That life is lived forward not backwards you see,

These three are not little ones any longer, please note

They are now ready to put to sea their canoe or boat.

So this penultimate verse you must certainly hear

‘Cause the last verse to be written is really a prayer,

I remind you three, we bid you not farewell

But Godspeed to you: Cherice, Trista and Maachelle.

Dear God and Father of Trista, Maachelle and Cherice

Assure them always of your mercy and peace,

Dwell in their hearts, be manifest in their life

Shield and protect them from envy and strife.

Wherever you go, however long you be

This is not farewell but Godspeed.

  

Stewart Russell © 2006