Great Grief funeral reading
Here’s the next in my series of funeral readings you might like to consider for your loved one’s funeral or memorial ceremony. Some are sad, some are uplifting, some are comforting; there’s something for everyone here.
Readings are absolutely not a compulsory part of a funeral or memorial ceremony. Sometimes family members or friends desperately want to speak at their loved one’s funeral, but they haven’t got the wherewithal to write something themselves. Readings are a perfect stand-in: your emotions and feelings right there on the page ready for you to contribute.
Remember readings can be adapted – if your favourite reading is written for him, you can change it to her! If it’s written for Mum, you can change it to Dad or Grandma or Grandpa, whatever fits for you. Take out lines that don’t fit your circumstances. I just make sure to introduce such a reading as an adaptation.
Great Grief, by Donna Ashworth
Don’t fall out of love with the world
because they no longer live in it.
Instead by grateful
that this world produced them.
Be glad
that this life ever existed
and that you
were blessed enough
to love them then
and love them still.
Don’t fall out of love with this world
because it could not keep
your heart whole.
Instead
Let love be the glue
patch it up
and fill it with joy
joy that you know
first-hand
in this bittersweet conundrum
that great grief
is born only
of great love.