Dear Mark, Meaghan, Theresa and family,
My deepest sympathy and condolences to all of you in this deeply sad and painful time. I would like to share with you a beautiful passage written by Queen Elizabeth II at Prince Philip's funeral. Grief has no respect for rank or position. It comes to all who love. God Bless.
ON THE DEATH OF THE BELOVED
Though we need to weep your loss, you dwell in that safe place in our hearts where no storm, or night, or pain can reach you. Your love was like the dawn brightening over our lives, awakening beneath the dark a further adventure of color. The sound of your voice found for us a new music that brightened everything. Whatever you enfolded in your gaze quickened in the joy of its being; you placed smiles like flowers on the alter of the heart.
Your mind always sparkled with wonder at things. Your spirit was alive, awake, complete. We look toward each other no longer from the old distance of our names; Now you dwell inside the rhythm of breath, as close to us as we are to ourselves. Though we cannot see you with outward eyes, we know our soul's gaze is upon your face, smiling back at us from within everything to which we bring our best refinement.
let us not look for you only in memory, where we would grow lonely without you. You would want us to find you in presence, beside us when beauty brightens, when kindness glows and music echoes eternal tones. When orchids brighten the earth, darkest winter has turned to spring, may this dark grief flower with hope in every heart that loves you. may you continue to inspire us: To enter each day with a generous heart to serve the call of courage and love until we see your beautiful face again.
Brandy Clark
