DEATH IS SMALLER THAN I THOUGHT
My Mother and Father died some years ago
I loved them very much.
When they died my love for them
Did not vanish or fade away.
It stayed just about the same,
Only a sadder colour.
And I can feel their love for me,
Same as it ever was.Nowadays, in good times or bad,
I sometimes ask my Mother and Father
To walk beside me or to sit with me
So we can talk together
Or be silent.They always come to me.
I talk to them and listen to them
And think I hear them talk to me.
It’s very simple –
Nothing to do with spiritualism
Or religion or mumbo jumbo.It is imaginary.
It is real.
It is love.Adrian Mitchell
https://www.poetryinternational.com/en/poets-poems/poems/poem/103-13607_DEATH-IS-SMALLER-THAN-I-THOUGHT
This poem by Adrian Mitchell beautifully captures the ongoing bond of love that exists even after a loved one passes on. Their spirit stays with us, and we can still feel connected through memory, spirit and imagination. Religion might offer comfort about life after death, but it shouldn’t make people feel like they can’t openly mourn or continue to feel sadness at the loss of someone close. Suppressing those natural emotions is unhealthy, can be isolating and in an attempt to suppress natural emotions we may block out memories of relationships that can actually boost our spirits.
1 Corinthians 15:55 speaks of victory over death through Christ, which can provide hope. But we don’t have to put on a stoic front and pretend to only feel joy, not pain, in difficult times. Even Jesus wept at Lazarus’ tomb, showing it’s okay to grieve. The point is that death and suffering don’t get the final say – love persists. We honor our loved ones when we admit the depth of sorrow, while also leaning on spiritual comfort and cherishing warm memories. Their imprint remains on our hearts forever and we can summon their strength and encouragement from any realm.
