There's a ship sailing on to a harbor.

To a haven of comfort and rest:

It's a ship of God's fashion and making,

And its voyage by Him will be blest.

It departed with silence and beauty,

With the Master, Himself, in command;

As with dignity truly majestic

It sailed out of sight of all land.


There will always be clear skies above it;

There will always be calmness below;

There will never be storms to harass it,

for the Master is on it, you know.

And His wisdom will carry it safely

To the port of His infinite peace,

Where the light of His love will protect it

With a blessing that never will cease.


You have watched it sail onward and outward,

With a tear of regret in your eye,

for a loved one was sailing upon it,

And there's grief when you're saying goodbye.

But your tears would be tear of rejoicing,

And your heart would be happy and free,

If you could look for only a moment

On that ship that is sailing to sea.


For the one you have loved is at leisure,

With no worry or trouble or care;

There's contentment beyond understanding,

In the way God's passengers fare.

And you'd know from your own observation

That the sailing was joyful - not grim,

For it means a new life and new living,

And a sweet, closer contact with him.


Oh, the solace there is in the knowledge,

Life is life and it always will be,

And it's simply a change of direction

When we sail on His ship out to sea.

And the tears that we shed for our loved ones

Are in tgruth shed for us left behind,

For it hurts to give up to the Master,

Tho we know He is gentle and kind.

So believe in His great and good wisdom,

Trust in Him, as you patiently wait;

On His ship God is ever the pilot,

And the one you have loved is the mate.

*********

Thank you so much Alffe for sharing this. I know my dad is at peace now. He had a rough life and worked so hard to keep food on the table. And I know that God had a reason for taking him so soon. But the pain is still fresh in my heart and will be for some time.