Category Archives: death

THE OLD YEAR OUT; THE NEW YEAR IN

“Time marches on” as the old saying goes. Things never stay the same. As I think of the passing years with its joys and sorrows, I look forward not just to a new year, but the never-ending year God has for those who love Jesus Christ. And there, I will have no sorrows, only joy. I hope many others join me there.

ALL THINGS NEW

What was can never be again.
The landscape of the present day
is now the shadow on the wall
no matter how I bid it stay.

There's now no mother kiss to heal
my wounds, no father's arms to hold
me when I weep, no bouncing child
to keep my heart from growing cold.

My auburn strands of hair have turned
to gray. My skin, in years gone by,
so soft and smooth, now shows the lines
of years that passed just like a sigh.

If I could hold the reins of time
and from its endless journey free
the joy of moments past, then they
could always be a part of me.

Though not just joys, but sorrows too,
would never leave and never heal.
Perhaps what seems a glorious thought
would simply be a gross ordeal.

And yet inside of me, a part of me
yearns to never say goodbye
to mother, father, child, or friend,
as years are days that ceaseless fly.

The changing days are part of life
for blessings, sorrows, much or few,
until God stills the earthly clock,
and with one word makes all things new.

JUDAH

As I enter January, I think about my grandson Judah who ended his life on January 23, 2022. He was far too young; he would turn 19 that year. Even when someone seems whole and involved with God, there are times the darkness gets too heavy. I pray that no one feels there is no hope as they think this course would be better. I miss that young man, but I know his mama and daddy and his siblings miss him more. And I know that God brings comfort to our hearts as he catches our tears and mingles them with his own.

WHEN DID YOU DRY JUDAH’S TEARS

When did You dry Judah’s tears?
When he first looked in Your face?
When he felt Your warm, calm arms
When he felt Your mercy, grace?

When did You dry Judah’s tears?
When he knew there were no chains,
earth’s enticements now were gone?
Was that when you healed his pain?

When did You dry Judah’s tears?
Before the joy You had for him?
When he knew earth’s arms were loosed?
Gone was bondage to all sin?

Come and dry our tears of grief
from these pain that wounds our hearts
to Your joy because we know
Judah now lives in Your heart.

Darlene Estlow©2023

THE WORD WAS GOD

THE WORD WAS GOD

It was God who came that day
to live a life on earth.
No beginning, always God,
becoming man at birth.

It was God who left his throne
on high to wear our form,
coming down to give His peace
to quell sin's awful storm.


It was God who came to die
to spread on earth His light,
that we could walk with Him each day,
delivered from our plight.

May God give us the realization of what Christmas truly is.