Expert: Ted Nesbitt - 8/4/2009

Question
Ted,

I have a copy of thr first two and last two satnzas that my sister Beverly claims to have written in Dec 1960 when my father died...
Do you have anything dated before then?

thanks,
Cheryl

Answer
Cheryl:

I had this question in May, 2003 and I found several versions of the poem.  The author is "unknown."  I tried every source I could think of, but I could NOT find a poet's name -- just "author unknown" or "anonymous."

Of the various versions, this one is the best that I found:

Safely Home

          I am home in heaven, dear ones;
          Oh so happy and so bright!
          There is perfect joy and beauty
          In this everlasting light.

              All the pain and grief is over,
          Every restless tossing passed;
          I am now at peace forever,
          Safely home in heaven at last.

          Did you wonder how I so calmly
          Trod the valley of the shade?
          Oh, but Jesus' love illumined
          Every dark and fearful glade.

          And he came himself to meet me
          In that way so hard to tread;
          And with Jesus' arm to lean on,
          Could I have one doubt or dread?

          Then you must not grieve so sorely,
          For I love you dearly still;
          Try to look beyond earth's shadows,
          Pray to trust our Father's will.

          There is work still waiting for you,
          So you must not idly stand;
          Do it now, while life remains,
          You shall rest in Jesus' land.

              When that work is all completed,
          He will gently call you home;
          Oh, the rapture of that meeting,
          Oh, the joy to see you come!


Some the the other versions leave our certain lines/verses, such as the one that refers to "Jesus."  Otherwise, they are pretty much the same.

I hope this matches the two verses you already have.

Ted Nesbitt