The Saint’s Graduation

 

Death should be a time of rejoicing

For saints, if you know what I mean,

The graduation from all of earth’s troubles

And prepared for the heavenly scene.

 

It is like any course of study,

At the end, we look forward to graduation

And for all the successful participants,

There is a culminating celebration.

 

This earth is the saint’s testing ground

It is a mixed bag of joy and sorrow,

We deal with today’s examinations

 But anticipate some more tomorrow.

 

Some of them are particularly fiery

Some, especially long and drawn out,

 Some leave us so down and distraught

That we are even inclined to doubt.

 

Yet when the death angel interrupts

We are disappointed and suffer sore,

Almost as if of life’s troubles

It would be good to suffer some more.

 

Seldom do we release our loved ones

And we gripe when they finally go,

And we treat to their home going event

As though death was their greatest foe.

 

For some the graduation exercise

Is all about doom and gloom,

And even in the case of longevity

We still say they have gone too soon.

 

Death is treated to as a monster

Even though it was the death of a saint,

And sometimes this is so overwhelming

That at the ceremony some will faint.

 

 

Death ought to be a time of rejoicing

Especially in the case of a saint

But suffice it to say I am guilty

Even though a cheerful picture I paint.

 

We sorrow at the death of a saint

And rejoice at the birth of a child,

The former is escaping earth’s troubles

While the latter, the opposite is applied.

 

Some believe it should be reversed

Given all that is really to follow,

But the vast majority, and so am I,

Find that too difficult to swallow.

 

We ought not to sorrow, the Bible says,

As those who have no hope,

For the dead in Christ will precede us

And that should help us to cope.

 

Death is the saint’s graduation

Amidst our sorrow, we should rejoice

In recognition of our loved ones’ destiny

Having made Jesus their choice.

 

Yes, sorrow for the lost affection

And be sad for the physical separation,

But rejoice that on account of redemption

We can celebrate a saint’s graduation.

 

Stewart Russell (c) September 2019