Saying goodbye to a loved one is tough. Whether he was an uncle, a brother, a father, or even a son, saying goodbye is never easy, and everyone wants the ceremony to go without a hitch, to give them a good send-off. 

A large part of many funerals is the readings section. Depending on your faith and religious background, this could be a time when people come together to take comfort in their particular religious texts or read words that have meaning to them, either a poem or a song or something that has been written especially.

Why Readings Are Important 

It can be argued that readings at a funeral aren’t important, but many people find comfort in hearing words that are so eloquently written.  

When it comes to the passing of a loved one, it can be hard to put the feelings into words, using readings can help to do that and can help to vocalize the loss in a way that feels appropriate. 

Readings also bring people together, especially in a religious setting. Readings and hymns have been used for centuries, and there is a comfort in knowing that your loved one is being remembered in the same way that their ancestors were remembered. Some families even have traditional verses or poems that are read at everyone’s funeral as a collective way to say goodbye.

How to Choose A Reading 

If you’re trying to find the perfect reading, the funeral director will be a good person to ask. Funeral directors such as exithere.com have years of experience and will usually have a list of lovely poems, songs, hymns, verses, and other writings that have been traditionally used. These can be a great comfort and save you the heartache of having to find something bespoke. 

When you are choosing a reading, be sure to be mindful of the faith of the person and the faith in which they are being laid to rest. Some people may not outwardly be very religious, but they may wish for their funeral to be conducted to strict religious requirements. 

It’s always best to pick verses or writings that have a positive message in them for example, Romans 14:8 “For if we live, we live to the Lord, and if we die, we die to the Lord. So then, whether we live or whether we die, we are the Lord’s.” is a positive message that the person passing is going to a place of belonging. 

A lovely poem that is often used for funerals is Do Not Stand At My Grave and Weep by Mary Elizabeth Frye, this poem speaks from the perspective of the person who has passed, promising their remaining loved ones that they will be with them everywhere in spirit. The words, “I am a thousand winds that blow, I am the diamond glints on snow, I am the sun on ripened grain, I am the gentle autumn rain” are particularly poignant for funerals of any belief structure.