The Forgiven Bad

You, my dear, suffered greatly I know.
As depression settled over you…
a tsunami of darkness rushed in.
Your chronic headaches… blood disorder…
every prescription a side effect of weight gain…
Yes, weight gain and another round of headache.

You went through this, and I cared…
regretfully, not deeply enough for you.
I didn’t know what to do.
That, and our marriage had its challenges.
You could have moved on as you said you would…
well, we both said we would in the heat of argument.
Instead, you stayed – we both did, forty-three years…
And then, one day, you were gone.

Nonetheless, God had His purpose even in this.
He remains sovereign and true… immutable.
If all things work together for good for those in Christ,
that includes working through the forgiven bad we’ve done.
That is true for both of us dear,
And I believe He was there for you that last hour.
How can I say that?
I know what you did, you did in faith in Christ, and He is faithful.
Now, rest in His peace, my dear.

Millpond Ink Poetry, 2016, edited June 2022