Pondering an especially dark and hard season, remembering the moments I sat by the bedside of a dying loved one, birthed a new courage from within. Daring to have a conversation with death, I came face to face with a truth which both shocked and healed me.
As I felt the life slipping away from my precious sister-in-law, I contemplated the substance of life, in the presence of the cruelty of death.
Having experienced death in many forms, from burying loved ones, to the loss of a marriage, home and even financial loss, I came to loathe each meeting of this formidable foe.
Until I saw him through the eyes of Christ.
And then, my conversation with death no longer held hopelessness and defeat. Listen in as we stood eye to eye on the day I finally saw the truth.
A Conversation with Death
Intoxicated with your own bravado.
Pride’s stench oozing from your pores.
Your walk—
a swagger.
A sneer in the gravel of your voice.
You look down on me—
broken.
“Winner takes all,” you spit out,
contemptuously tossing
a sheet of paper on the table.
One trembling glance, my eyes drink the bitter cup.
Head over to The Way Back To Ourselves, to read the full poem, where I am honored to be published in their spring Literary Journal, Renaissance.
And though we still suffer at their hands at times on this earth, Death and the devil no longer have the final word.
If you enjoyed reading this post, there’s more! Sign up for my Substack; a little slice of serenity delivered right to your inbox!
Donna, my eyes are leaking. I’m at a loss for words. Praise God, Halleluiah!
Thank you so much for sharing this blessed poem with Sweet Tea & Friends this month.
Paula, I praise God for you, thank you for making time to share your kind words with me.
I am currently on alert for the death of a friend. Every time my phone rings, I wonder if it’s the news. It will be sad for me, but glorious for her. Your poem is amazing, Donna. You have such a gift of words; thanks for sharing it with us.
Lisa I am so sorry for your walking a friend through end of life. How hard those last steps can be, may memories of happier times be your comfort in this dark time. I know God is close, and truly the God of all comfort we need. Thank you for taking the time to read my poem, and for your kind words of encouragement!
Donna, this was good insight for me since my friend just passed away. Love how you said, “my conversation with death no longer held hopelessness and defeat.” That’s so true and good. Hope rose from the dead when Jesus Christ conquered the grave!
Thank you, Karen, for taking the time to read my poem and for your kind words. I am truly grieved to hear of your recent loss of a dear friend. Each encounter with death here on earth inflicts deep pain, but God reminds us, that wound is not eternal, and death cannot hold the believer beyond the grave.
Death indeed is a defeated foe Donna, alongside the defeated enemy of our souls.
To me death, something I have already experienced & will again when my ‘time’ comes is but a stepping stone to eternity of pure joy with my Heavenly Father & Jesus, my Saviour.
How very exciting that is! In the meantime we press towards the upward goal.
Blessings sweet friend, Jennifer
Jennifer, those of us who have closely encountered death on this earth certainly know how painful those encounters can be. And as long as we live here, we will no doubt meet this defeated foe more times in various ways. But hallelujah, death has no place in the eternal realm, and can hold us no more once we shed these earthly shells!
Wow…this is powerful. Praise Jesus–He has conquered the grave! May you continue to find peace and comfort in Him in your time of sorrow.
Thank you, Janet for taking the time to read my poem and especially for your kind words. Praise God for His victory over death, the devil and the grave!
Donna, the last 6 lines of the poem are so powerful. May I always remember that in death believers are redeemed, reborn, and restored. And the enemy? He is defeated. Powerful and comforting.
Thank you, Joanne for taking the time to read my poem! In this word we face death in so many ways, we can forget it no longer has eternal significance for us!