A Jon Post

I wrote this in memory of a 17-year-old boy named Samuel who died last week on Monday. Layne, Alice our partner, and I had been asked by his doctor to sit by his bedside to care for him (cleaning, feeding, etc) as he was given too much pain medication to maintain consciousnesses and had no one else to care for him in his last days. We knew and loved him well. This song has been on my heart since and I’m glad I was able to write it and share it here.

We met when you were young
     Not yet 17
          Your eyes were holding a pain I’d never known
We spoke softly I learned your name
     You told me of your home
          Alone and sick your smile betrayed your fear

So you wait in this bed staring death in the face
And oh, there’s more to you than this
I believe together we can find out what it is

So I will visit you
     Though I barely know your name
I’ll laugh and joke and hope to know you well
     Yes I will visit you

I learned that you’d been hurt
     You trusted me with your pain
          We cried and hugged I’d no words to heal the scar
But I told you there was One
     Who does more than simply heal
          He completes our pain in the wordless beauty of His

So you sit in this bed staring life in the face
And oh, there’s more to trust than this
With Him together you can find out what it is

So I will pray with you
     To the One who knows your name
Though you’ve just met He already knows you well
     Yes I will pray with you

The months passed you grew, I watched
     You seemed to grow so strong
          We hoped you’d win this war with your disease
So soccer games and smiles
     Mark these memories I hold
          Chasing balls on broken pavement with a grin

You seem free of your fear of the sting of your death
And oh, there’s more to find in Him
I believe together we can search out what it is

So I will play with you
     And I’ll laugh and shout your name
We’ll chase the sun we’ll hold these memories well
     Yes I will play with you

Then slowly it returned
     The pain you knew so well
          Our feeble hands failed to stop dark tides of this disease
And lying on your bed
     Poison dripping in your veins
          You held tight to the One who gives joy who gives peace… in anguish

So you lie in your bed waiting for death and his touch
But oh, there’s more to tears than this
Crying together we can seek out what it is

So I will sit with you
     And I’ll whisper your name
I’ll plead the blood of Christ will cover you
     Yes I will sit with you

Hours silent by your side
     Slowly pass us by
          Others come and go, I wonder if you still hear me
But your body lost its fight
     Your heart was just to tired
          And the gap between you and Christ came to a close

So you died in this bed with peace on your face
And oh, there’s more to death than this
Some day together you can show me what it is

So I will cry for you
     And I’ll softly speak your name
I’m so glad you let me get to know you well
     Yes I will cry for you

Now you stand
     On legs strong and whole and clean
Now you stand
     In the presence of the One who redeemed your pain

And one day I will stand with you
     Singing glory to His name
Yes I will stand with you
     Singing glory to His name
We’ve eternity to get to know Him well
     Yes I will stand with you

Oh I will stand with you