You Should Have Been Here

You Should Have Been Here

October 2016

Our oldest son said “Yes”

To a beautiful bride on Saturday morning

Within the walls of the Lord’s House.

A perfect day by all accounts,

But you should have been here.

It was a lovely fall day filled with

Forced smiles and flooded eyes

When your baby girl watched the bride

Dance with her daddy,
And wished for only one thing:

That you could have been here.

The pictures of our family’s

New dynamic were too much

For our missionary to cherish

Some two thousand miles away.

His anguish yet another reminder

That you should have been here.

Your brother fought back tears

As he stood in photos,

Greeted guests, and offered

Advice to the bride and groom,

Attempting to fill the void we all feel

Because you should have been here.

Even as I contemplate

The beauty of that day,

I sense the patronizing platitudes

Regarding your watchful presence

And ever-attentive eye

As I acknowledge your spirit’s whisper

In my heart.

But still, you should have been here.

Just as you should be here in days ahead

To hear the cheers of happy homecomings,

The playing of Pomp and Circumstance,

The opening shot of the hunt,
The first cries of future grandchildren,

And the laughter of holidays

Spent within the walls of a home

We built for the sake of our kids

Who long for your loving embrace--

All of whom are left wishing for one thing:

That you could be here.