The Dress

When Julie and I first got married we observed some couples in our lives who were great examples of marriage. We saw their love and devotion for one another and we wanted to apply some of their principles to our marriage.

One of those couples, the Hodges were older but their devotion for one another was truly amazing. Often when we would go back to Gravette, Clyde and his wife would have us over for coffee. Their laughter, respect and concern for one another always encouraged us to be better. They were the truest of friends, towards us and such a godly example.

Then when Clyde's wife died we saw what it was to go through the valley. He loved his Jesus so very much through it all but we knew how he missed her so.  He had given up many of her things but he still had kept a few clothes to remind him of the love of his life. It was upon thinking of them both today why I wrote the following poem.

The Dress

The dress still hangs on the rod in a room where he has not slept in for almost two years,

He wakes up on the couch as the morning sun warms his face,

He knows that time keeps moving and that he must keep going on,

Gets inside the car, begins to weep as the radio plays their song.

I know there’s a heaven,

And one day I will meet her there,

But I still see her dancing in the dress,

And miss how the sunshine played in her hair.

Cup of coffee in the evening he forgets as he makes her a cup once again,

The kids are coming over and try to get him out of the house for a while,

They smile at him, holding his hand they go out the door,

But the sparkle in their eyes reminds him so much of her.

I know there’s a heaven,

And one day I will meet her there,

But I still see her dancing in the dress,

And miss how the sunshine played in her hair.

They are gathered around him in the bed He and her had once laid in,

Their tears fall like rain as the three look down upon his face,

They look upon their father the very last time,

Then they see their mother’s dress and know that he will be fine.

And now he is breathing in Heaven,

And on this day he will meet her there,

He can see now see her dancing in the dress,

As he sees how the sunshine plays in her hair,

 Yes, he can now see her dancing in the dress,

 And he sees how the sunshine plays in her hair.