Buffalo Gal

I am going to share a poem by James Weldon Johnson one of America’s most notable poets of the past. It is from his collection of poetry, GOD’S TROMBONES and it is moving message to Christian believers who have been at the deathbed of someone they love dearly.
Our family was at such a deathbed for three days when our beloved brother in law peacefully died after a bad head injury made worse by terminal cancer .
Last evening as we stood besided him and sang, prayed and read beloved Psalms, he went so easily and peacefully to be with the Lord Jesus in His Eternal home.
I am filled with a mix of deep grief (for my sister and for all of us who loved him so much and there so many of us.)
But I am also filled with gratitude for answered prayer that his death not be drawn out, painful and agonizing. The Lord is so merciful and full of amazing grace.. He took our loved one so gently and so peacefully last evening. No suffering, no pain, no struggle..just a final breath and he was gone from us but he was at perfect peace with the Lord Jesus who gently carried him away to his new eternal life,
This blog is especially for Christian beleivers but it is for everyone who has stood by a dying loved one’s bed as they passes away from earthly life.
James Johnson spoke so eloquently in GO DOWN DEATH.

“”Weep not, weep not,
He is not dead; he is resting in the bosom of Jesus.
Heartbroken wife…weep no more.
Grief stricken sons, weep no more.
Left-lonesome daughers weep no more.
He is only just gone home.

Day before yesterday morning, God was looking down from His great high heaven,
Looking down on all his children ,
And His eye fell on Brother
George. tossing on his bed of pain.
And God’s big heart was touched with pity,
With everlasting pity.

And God sat back on His throne
And he commanded that tall bright ange; standing at His right hand:
Call me death!
And that tall bright angel cried in a voice
That broke like a clap of thunder—-
Call Death—call Death!
And the echo sounded down the streets of Heaven
Till it reached
all the way to that shadowy place , Where Death rode to the Great White Throne ,
and waited God’s command.

And God said: Go down death, go down {to earth} and find Brother
George.
He’s borne the burden of the day, He’s labored long in my vineyard
And he’s tired—-
He’s weary—
Go down Death and bring him to me.

———–
While we were watching round his bed,
He turned his eyes and looked away,
He saw what we couldn’t see;
He saw Death . He saw Death
Coming like a falling star,
But Death didn’t frighten our Brother.
He looked like a welcome friend.
And He knew “I’m going home”
And he smiled and closed his eyes.

Amd Death took him like a baby,
And he lay in his icy arms
But he didn’t feel any chill.
And Death began to ride again—-
Up beyond the evening star,
And beyond the morning star,
Into the glittering light of glory,
On the Great White Throne.
And there he laid our Brother
On the loving breast of Jesus.

And Jesus took His own hand, and wiped way his tears.
And and He smoothed away the furrows on his face.
And the angels sang a little song,
And Jesus rocked him in His arms.
And kept a-saying: Take your rest,
Take your rest, take your rest.

Weep not—weep not,
He is not dead,
He’s resting in the arms of Jesus.”