Graduation Time

For the time that he was here,
Reaching out to those that were near
Daring to love in spite of the pain
Imparting what he had,
Life, good and sad
Desiring to help, that all may gain.
Simple in how he taught
Yet complex to make one grow
Explanation abounding
So that everyone should know
That God, he loved and served
Sufficient for every need
Loving all completely
In helping hand and deed
Twenty years invested
In this writers cause
Now he has gone home
I write as I take pause
To reflect how someone
Saw something in me
To spend that kind of effort
To plant the kind of seed
That sprouted within my soul
So I could serve Him, whole
Not broken anymore
But a vessel, crafted with love
Tempered by fire, handled with care
So fruit I may bear, in His likeness
All because on cared enough.
(In memory of Rev. Milton Smith, August 20, 1931-September 11, 2013)