Going Home

I wrote this for mom's graveside service. 

GOING HOME

by Cheryl Banks

October 2022

Another limb has fallen from our family tree

In the same Autumn month of October into which she was born.

Mom came from the Smokey Mountains where the leaves die richly

In riotous colors of empyrean yellow, atonement red, joyous orange.

Autumn leaves don't fall, they fly

Taking their time to wander and soar free, unbound from the Earth.

When her Autumn arrived promising a new life amidst the drama of death,

Mom looked across God's many wonders, and at the family that came from love, and she said “Life was a gift."

Then gently slipping away, her spirit soared gracefully up,

High above the trees and stars and into a heavenly garden of indescribeable colors that revealed God's majesty.

She beheld her Father's face,

And touched her Savior's hand.

Then she saw her love smiling and patting the bench beside him for her to sit.

Taking her hand they listened to the angels sing her welcome as God's Glory lit the heavens.

And she whispered to him, "It's good to be home.