GOD WILL CARRY YOU
The Lord will never leave us nor forsake us,
He promised He'd be with us through it all.
It often seems He's walking right beside us
As He guides us through our problems,
large and small.
But there are times we just can't feel His presence,
When the road's so rough, we need Him all the more ~
We wonder why we're so alone and helpless,
Why His hand's not there to lead us as before..,
But if we listen quietly, He'll tell us,
"Take a moment and remember what I said:
If you fail to see me walking right beside you,
It's because I have you in my arms instead~
For together, we will cross the highest mountain,
Together we will face the stormy sea,
You never are alone, you're never helpless!
I'll carry you ~ let go and lean on me."
Emily Matthews |
Finally you're at peace, free from confusion and pain,
for that I am thankful.
Your last 4 weeks with us must have been agony for you,
not being able to tell me how you felt, how bad the pain was...
for I am sure you were in pain.
I thank you for the thirty years we had together, through thick
and thin.... you were always there to support me, no matter what
or no matter who interfered. We made mistakes, who doesn't...
some were huge, some insignificant but we got through it.
Many didn't think we'd last because of our age difference, but
we showed them, didn't we.
What I regret the most is that you were in a state of confusion these past 4 years. In the beginning it was only short periods
but as the years passed the periods of understanding grew less and less. I don't know if you really understood what I was
talking about during our last night together, going over old times, good and bad, but mostly good. Funny how the bad times fade
into insignificance with the passing of years. I thank God that I had the chance to thank you for our time we shared, I just hope
that by some strange miracle, you may have understood.
I regret the outside influences who stole precious time from us.
Bureaucratic bunglers with no heart. People who wanted to institutionalise you almost 4 years ago, when there was no need.
People who knew nothing of how we truly felt about each other, knew nothing of our lives, yet took great pleasure in making
it as miserable as possible.
But George, you taught me to fight back, to stand up for myself, the truth, and my beliefs. I often felt it was a losing battle,
still do sometimes, but I will never give in to lies and deceit.
Many people thought you 'hard', but I knew your weaknesses, didn't like some of them, especially drink. You tried, many times
you gave up
alcohol, for years, because I was more important to you. Since you
became ill, I found out what may have caused this
need for alcohol.
X-rays showed shrapnel not only all over you body, but embedded in
your brain as well. Who knows how much
influence this had on you.
Born in Condobolin, NSW in 1919, you had a life full of 'bumps', even when you were a child. Your mother died when you were you
were very young and your father couldn't cope, so you were adopted out. You left home at 16 to make your own way in the world
and it wasn't until you volunteered for the Army that you found out you were adopted.
You served your country in the Middle East and were the only survivor of a group of your comrades., though you carried the physical
scars to the end, none of us know what memories you carried of war time, you never talked much about it, except that nothing stopped
you from trying to 'do a line' for the nurses tending you. *S*.
When everyone else was earning three pounds a week, you were earing fifty! Selling oil paintings no less. You were an astute business
man and helped those around you who needed help financially. You enjoyed your youth, with a passion and sowed your wild oats. You
had two unsuccessful marriages before we met... I guess it was a case of 'third time lucky'. Maybe I found you when you'd mellowed
a little *S*.
You've left me with thirty years of memories, thirty years of caring and support. One thing I'll always remember is your telling me
that you had no real friends... only aquaintances, except for me, I was your only friend.
George, I have to admit, I think you were right all along. None of those who professed to be your friends made any contact these
last few years to inquire as to how you were. It was a case of 'out of sight, out of mind'.
It doesn't matter, I cared...
I miss you, and I thank you for being part of my life.
|
This was sent to me by a dear friend of George's daughter, Rhonda.
In Memoriam: “George Furner”
Behind the face, beneath the beard
Another man, another life
Lying now surrounded by felt and lace
face stilled and eyes unseen
awaiting the final heat
beyond the race of life
in the cool of a Queensland
winter’s sunny morn
oblivious to sensuous palms
and potted grasses whose
green arms touch, entwine,
only to spring apart again
moved by tropic breeze-
where are your secrets now?
Not with pastoral carer whose voice
offers standard sweet remarks
yet knows not the real man
or even his belt-wearer
gathered with this knot
of grievers to a chapel
For those who mourn this day
your feats now are only recall
smudges on the blur of memory
rekindled only through sounds
of defunct dance bands
parading off stage
Another mood replacing
Miller’s lively sounds
we take our leave of “Lucky”
as curtains close on your
dismantled day, uncertain
puzzled, stunned, and weepy
jsbÓ05/August/00 |
