STONES

I was reminded the other night
how fragile life is
as I remembered how
I almost died 4 years ago,
as a friend’s house burned down
and her cat died in the fire,
and a friend’s grandmother passed away
I remembered my mother and father
and the frustration I have about
my father not having a tombstone.

Then I thought about the stones
that sit on my shelf.
The stones that represent them,
the memories I hold of them
and the feelings which live in my heart.

My parents may be gone,
but like the stones I have
they live on in me and
the memories I have.
They are in the care of
the Ultimate and when
I hold my stones,
I know the Ultimate is
caring for them on heaven
as they were cared for on earth.