DEACON’S HOMILY

73 years old,

she spent the morning cooking,

then sat in a rocking chair,

her granddaughter in her arms.

The mother, her daughter, came

home from work, went into the kitchen

heated up something to eat.

Suddenly she heard her infant crying,

came into the room, found her mother… dead

— a massive heart attack, the doctor later said.

Momma was still in the chair, still holding on

to the baby, but no longer breathing,

head slumped to the side.

The deacon told us this story today and

said the deceased came to

church in the mornings like us and

pointed to the pew where she sat

so we could recognize her in our minds.

Even in death, the deacon explained,

she loved her granddaughter,

she never let go.

Copyright: Timothy Herrick/timhrklit.com