The Empty Pew
By Larry R Linville

She sits in church alone again
her dear husband isn’t there.
She wishes he was with her
so this worship they could share.

She keeps hoping and praying
he will join her someday soon
but he always has excuses
that last each week till noon.

Her father joined her mother
and took her every week
so they could as a family
God’s words and message seek.

She sat between her parents
as they bowed their heads to pray
and listened to the preacher
not always knowing what he’d say.

She looks at the empty seat
and prays a special prayer
that someday in the future
he will be sitting there.