The First Anniversary of My Mother’s Departure to Be With Christ

What strange emotions rise
And struggle in my breast!
A chord unstrung! a mother gone!
But oh! to endless rest.

How fresh the wound! though now
A year has passed away,
But oh! how many hearts have bled
Since that heart —rending day!
I wept, and well I might!

I found the waters deep,
My sinking heart well-nigh o’erwhelmed,
‘Twas but relief to weep.

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I ought to praise — I do!
One whom I fondly love,
Beyond the reach of grief or pain,
Is blessed with Christ above.

Her face, her own sweet smile,
No more below I see;
But, though I weep, full well
I know They wait to welcome me.

A year! — and what a year
Of patient grace and love!
What openings of the Father’s heart!
What mercies from above!

In waters deep I’ve learned
Depths in His gracious heart,
And, of His mercies, I would least
With these sweet lessons part.

What have I learned of Christ!
His tender sympathies!
The meltings of His yearning heart!
His gentle ministries!

If then in deepest grief,
When sorrows most abound —
Such depths of love and tenderness
In Thee, my Lord, are found;

Do Thou with me whate’er
It seemeth good to Thee;
That I Thyself may better know,
Thy power may rest on me.
Edinburgh, Feb. 28th, 1859.