Today, I felt like I lost a good friend, but I hardly knew her. Her name was Queen Elizabeth II; she was laid to rest with her husband, mother, and father in the funeral vault of the St. George’s Chapel at the Windsor Castle. She was a cherished symbol of her country, England, and a loving mother to her children, grandchildren, and to everyone of the nations in the realm. Even though I didn’t know her personally, I feel like a part of me has passed. You see, she became queen of England when I was born in February of 1952; she has reigned for seventy years. I am now the proud owner of my own seventy years.
I am not British, but some in the family say there is some Irish in me, so I’m part of the realm. What I miss about Queen Elizabeth is her smile, the smile that put you at ease so quickly, the smile that stopped arguments among nations with a flutter of her eyes, the smile that brightened a little child’s face. She had a dry sense of humor that carried her through many troubled days, some in her own family. She loved her Corkies as part of the Royal family and even more so, as her constant companions for comfort, play, and protection. Who among us would not laugh when they would chase, on those little legs, anyone who they thought would harm the queen, including Winston Churchill? She was devoted to her husband and family, and even up until her last breath, she persevered in the vows she made to the nation on her twenty-fifth birthday to care for, protect, and defend the nation and its commonwealth.
She made her own plans for her funeral right down to the car that would carry her body throughout the country, the flowers to be used in her services, the hymns that would be sung at Westminster Abbey and St. George’s Chapel, and the ministers to serve in her services. I doubt that my plans for my funeral will be as precise and as beautiful as hers. As the car carrying her flag-draped coffin rode through the Scottish and English countryside, two words were etched on the faces of her countrymen: love and respect. For most of those faces, she was the only monarch they had ever known. Tears came to my eyes as I heard Revelations 21: 1-7 (KJV) being read by the Archbishop of Canterbury. “And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea. And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God. And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away. And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful. And he said unto me, It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely. He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son.”
The queen is with God and her Heavenly home. I hope that when I meet our Maker, I will be overwhelmed by what I couldn’t possibly know here on earth. Everything that was here will be gone, and I will walk among those who have gone before me, with no tears, pain, anger, doubt, hatred, or poverty. I will drink from the fountain of life, and He will make all things new.
I thank the Lord for the queen’s faith, charity, compassion, and her ability to carefully lead nations of the world when other leaders could only argue their ways or press for war through their difficulties. She left more than a legacy of love for England; she left a spirit of endurance that may never be surpassed. I pray for her family’s healing from so many misdirected family relationships and problems, and that her son, King Charles III, will reign with wisdom and compassion. As she touched the hearts of people from so many nations, I am grateful that she touched my heart today with words from one of my favorite verses of the Bible. “Rest in peace, Mother, and may His face forever shine on you, on your works, and on your family.
Anna Hartt
