John [3:16]

For God so loved the world, that he gave
His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth
in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

I Asked God

I asked God to take away my pride and God said no,
He said it was not for Him to take away, but for me to give up.
I asked God to grant me patience and God said no,
He said patience is a by-product of tribulation
and it is earned and not granted.
I asked God to spare me pain and God said no,
He said suffering draws you apart from
worldly cares and draws you closer to me.
I asked God to make my spirit grow and God said no,
He said I must grow on my own but He
would prune me to make me fruitful.
I asked God to make my baby whole and God said no,
He said her spirit is whole, her body is only temporary.
I asked God whether He loved me and God said yes,
He said He gave His only begotten Son to die for me,
And I will be in Heaven someday because I believe in Him.
And I asked God to help me love others
as much as He loved me,
And God said; now you have the idea.

Eternal Life

It is in pardoning that we are pardoned.
In giving, that we receive,
And in dying that we are born to eternal life.

To Those I Love and Those Who Loved Me

When I am gone, release me, let me go.
I have so many things to see and do.
You mustn’t tie yourself to me with tears.
Be happy that we had so many years.
I gave you my love, you can only guess
how much you gave to me in happiness.
I thank you for the love you each have shown,
but now I must travel on alone.
So grieve a while for me, if grieve you must,
then let your grief be comforted by trust.
It’s only for a time that we must part,
now share the memories within your heart.
I won’t be far away, for life goes on.
So if you need me, call and I will come.
Though we can’t touch, I’ll still be near
with memories glow so soft and clear.
Listen with your heart and you will find
my love, a song within your mind,
and then, when you must come this way alone,
I’ll greet you, smiling with a “Welcome Home.”

The Heart

Where is the heart that doth not keep
Within its inmost core,
Some fond remembrance hidden deep
Of days that are no more?

Baby Flowers

Baby flowers love the sun and the rain.
If it rains too hard, the little flowers are all washed away.
But, as with love the sun will make those
same flowers grow again someday.
Half the love that gave me life is now gone,
but with the help of the sun and flowers,
the memories of your love will keep me strong
until I’m called home to be with you.

God’s Garden

God looked around his garden
And he found an empty place.
He then looked down upon this
Earth, and saw your tired face.
He put His arms around you
And lifted you to rest.
God’s garden must be beautiful,
He always takes the best.
He knew that you were suffering,
He knew you were in pain.
He knew that you would never
Get well on earth again.
He saw the road was getting rough
And the hills were hard to climb.
So He closed your weary eyelids
And whispered, “Peace be thine.”
It broke our hearts to lose you but
You did not go alone,
For part of us went with you
The day God called you home.

Remember  Me With Sunshine

Remember me with sunshine, laughter, joy, and song.
No tears please, for I’m with Jesus now, where I belong.
Although my stay here with you, was oh so brief,
Giving up my earthly form was such a relief.
Throughout my short life I’ve received so much,
Everyone’s love and tenderness in each soft touch.
As you remember me in the coming days,
Remember that I loved you all in very special ways.
I’m laughing with the angels now,
and I hope you will laugh too,
Because from here in God’s Kingdom,
the world is a beautiful view.

When I Must Leave You

When I must leave you for a little while,
Please do not grieve and shed wild tears,
And hug your sorrow to you through the years,
But start out bravely with a gallant smile,
And for my sake and in my name,
Live on and do all things the same.
Feed not your loneliness on empty days,
But fill each waking hour in useful ways,
Reach out your hand in comfort and cheer.
And in return I will comfort you and hold you near.
And never, never be afraid to die
For I am waiting for you, in the sky.

 Helen Stiener Rice
(Written by the poet after losing her mother in 1945)

Salmo 23

Jehova es mí pastor.  Nada me faltara
En lugares de delicados pastos me hara descansar;
Junto a aguas de reposo mepastoreara.
Confortara mí alma; Me guiara por
sendas de justica por amor de Su nombre.
Aunque ande en valle de sombra de muerte,
No temeré mal alguno, porque tú  estaras conmigo;
Tu vara y tu cayado me infundiran aliento.
Aderezas mesa delanta de,
mí en presencia de mis angustiadores;
Unges mí cabeza con aceite; mí copa esta rebosando.
Ciertamente el bien y la misericordia
me seguran todos los dias de mí vida
y en la casa de Jehova moraré por largos días.

The Lord’s Prayer

Our Father, Who art in heaven hallowed be Thy name,
Thy kingdom come,
Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread,
and forgive us our trespasses,
as we forgive those who trespass against us,
and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.

Amen.

God Saw You Getting Tired

God saw you getting tired when a cure was not to be
So He closed His arms around you and whispered,
“Come to me!”
You didn’t deserve what you went through
and so He gave you rest.
God’s garden must be beautiful, He only takes the best.
And when we saw you sleeping so peaceful and free of pain,
We couldn’t wish you back to suffer that again.

Revelation 21:4

“And God will wipe away every tear from
their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor
sorrow, nor crying, and there shall be no more
pain, for the former things have passed away.”

A Mother Gone

Gone is a mother loved by all,
Her soul is now at rest.
She’ll sleep in peace her work is done.
A mothers work is the best.
She’ll know the joy of perfect rest
In heaven up above,
Where she may dwell contentedly
Protected by God’s love.
Our hearts may grieve that she must lie
Beneath the sacred sod,
And yet we know that she lives in peace
Within the house of God.

Serenity Prayer

God grant me the serenity to accept the things I
cannot change, the courage to change the things
I can and the wisdom to know the difference.

A Father Gone

Gone is a father loved by all,
His soul is now at rest.
He’ll sleep in peace his work is done.
A fathers work is the best.
He’ll know the joy of perfect rest
In heaven up above,
Where he may dwell contentedly
Protected by God’s love.
Our hearts may grieve that he must lie
Beneath the sacred sod,
And yet we know that he lives in peace
Within the house of God.

To All Parents

“I’ll lend you for a little time a child of mine,” He said,
“For you to love the while he lives
and mourn for when he’s dead.
It may be six or seven years, or twenty-two or three,
But will you, till I call him back
take care of him for me?
He’ll bring his charms to gladden you,
and shall his stay be brief,
You’ll have his lovely memories as solace for your grief.
I cannot promise he will stay, since all from earth return,
But there are lessons taught down
there that I want this child to learn.
I’ve looked the wide world over
in my search for teachers true,
And from the throngs that crowd life’s lanes
I have selected you.
Now will you give him all your love, nor think your labor vain,
Nor hate me when I come to call to take him back again?”
 I fancied that I heard them say, “Dear Lord, thy will be done!
For all the joy thy child shall bring, the risk of grief we run.
We’ll shelter him with tenderness,
we’ll love him while we may,
And for the happiness we’ve known forever grateful stay;
But shall the angels call for him
much sooner than we’ve planned,
We’ll brave the bitter grief that comes and try to understand.”

by Edgar Guest

Million Times

A million times we’ve needed you,
A million times we cried.
If love alone could have saved you,
You never would have died.
In life we hold you dearly,
In death we love you still.
But in our hearts you hold a place
That no one else can fill.
It broke our hearts to lose you,
But you didn’t go alone.
For part of us went with you
The day GOD called you home.

You Never Walk Alone

You never walk alone my friend
Though you may think you do.
For in your sorrow and despair
God always walks with you.
There is no hour, no passing day
He is not by your side.
And though unseen He is still there
To be your friend and guide.
Whene’er you think you walk alone
Reach out and you will find,
The hand of God to show the way
And bring you peace of mind

 Harold F. Mohn

Away

I cannot say, and will not say
That (he, she) is dead. (He, She) is just away!
With a cheery smile
And a wave of the hand,
(He, She) has wandered into an unknown land
And left us dreaming how very fair
It needs to be, since (he, she) lingers there.
Think of (him, her) fairing on, as dear
In the love of There as the love of Here;
Think of (him, her) still as the same, I say:
(He, She) is not dead – (he, she) is just – Away!

To Everything There Is A Season

To everything there is a season, and a
time to every purpose under the heaven;
A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant,
and a time to pluck up that which is planted;
A time to kill, and a time to heal; a time
to break down, and a time to build up;
A time to weep and a time to laugh;
 a time to mourn and  a time to dance;
A time to cast away stones, and
a time to gather stones together;
 a time to embrace and a time
to refrain from embracing;
A time to get, and a time to lose;
a time to keep, and a time to cast away;
A time to rend, and a time to sew;
a time to keep silent, and a time to speak;
A time to love, and a time to hate;
a time of war, and a time of peace.

 Eccl. 3:1-8

Footprints

One night a man had a dream.  He dreamed he was walking along the beach with the Lord.  Across the sky flashed scenes from his life. 

For each scene, he noticed two sets of footprints in the sand; one belonging to him, and the other to the Lord.  When the last scene of his life flashed before him, he looked back at the footprints in the sand.  He noticed that many times along the path of his life there was only one set of footprints.  He also noticed that this happened at the very lowest and saddest times in his life.

This really bothered him, and he questioned the Lord about it,  “Lord, you said that once I decided to follow You, You’d walk with me all the way.  But I have noticed that during the most troublesome times in my life, there is only one set of footprints.  I don’t understand why, when I needed you the most, You left me.”

The Lord replied,  “My son, my precious child, I love you and would never leave you.  During your times of trial and suffering, when you see only one set of footprints, it was then that I carried you.”

 - - Author Unknown

To Everything There Is A Season (Version 2)

To everything there is a season
And a time to every purpose
Under the heaven;
A time to be born and a time to die;
A time to plant, and a time to pluck up
That which is planted;
A time to weep and a time to laugh;
A time to mourn and a time to dance… 

Eccl. 3:1,2

Stars and Stripes

The Stars and Stripes, they flew forever always in his heart.
He was loyal to his nation and bravely did his part.
Always thinking of his brother ever in his mind.
He stood for love of country and most of all mankind.
Now gazing down with his Master through a light and heavenly cloud,
He’s still looking out for us of whom he is so proud.

Do Not Stand At My Grave

Do not stand at my grave and weep;
I am not there, I do not sleep,
I am a thousand winds that blow:
I am the diamond glint on snow.
I am the sunlight on ripened grain;
I am the gentle autumn's rain.
When you awaken in the morning's hush;
I am the swift uplifting rush of
quiet birds in circled flight.
I am the soft stars that shine at night.
Do not stand at my grave and cry,
I am not there; I did not die.

I’m Free

Don’t grieve for me, for now I’m free.
I’m following the path God has laid you see.
I took his hand when I heard Him call.
I turned my back and left it all.
I could not stay another day
to laugh, to love, to work or play.
Tasks left undone must stay that way.
I found that peace at the close of the day.
If my parting has left a void,
then fill it with remembered joys.
A friendship shared, a laugh, a kiss.
Oh yes, these things I too will miss.
Be not burdened with times of sorrow.
I wish you the sunshine of tomorrow.
My life’s been full.  I savored much.
Good friends, good times, a loved one’s touch.
Perhaps my time seemed all too brief.
Don’t lengthen it now with undue grief.
Lift up your hearts and peace to thee.
God wanted me now, He set me free.

If I Should Be The First To Go

If I should be the first to go,
and you remain a while,
Before you, too, must walk alone
down life’s last lonely mile,
I would not have you weep or
grieve for happiness that’s flown,
Lest tears be dim that misty vale
 gown which my feet have gone.
If I should be the first to go,
beyond life’s mystic pale,
Just think of me as one who
goes to blaze a brighter trail

Across that unknown wilderness,
that on some future day
Your feet may find a smoother
path along that self-same way.
If I should be the first to go,
I shall walk slowly, Dear,
For some day you will follow
me across death’s dark frontier.
I’ll mark each turn along the road
 that you may walk the same;
I’ll often pause to hear your voice
if you shall call my name.
If I should be the first to go,
beyond all earthly care,
I’ll try and linger near the
gate until you enter there.
Then, hand in hand, with all life’s
hard battles fought and won,
Together we shall find what
lies beyond the setting sun.

Happy Memories

I’d like the memory of me to be a happy one.
I’d like to leave an afterglow of smiles when life is done.
I’d like to leave an echo whispering softly down the ways.
Of happy times and laughing times
and bright and sunny days.
I’d like the tears of those who grieve to dry before the sun
Of happy memories that I leave when life is done.

Psalm 23

The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.
He maketh me to lie down in green pastures;
He leadeth me beside the still waters.
He restoreth my soul;
He leadeth me in the paths of
righteousness for His name’s sake.
Yea, though I walk through the
valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil; for Thou art with me;
Thy rod and Thy staff, they comfort me.
Thou preparest a table before me
in the presence of mine enemies;
Thou anointest my head with oil;
 my cup runneth over.
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me
all the days of my life; and I will dwell
in the house of the Lord forever.

El Jardin de Dios

Dios miro alrededor de su jardin
y el enconro un lugar vacio.
El entonces miro bajo de esta
tierra y vio tu cara cansada.
el puso sus brazos alrededor de ti
y tel levanto a descanzar.
El jardin de Dios debe ser hermoso.
el todo el tiempo se lleva lo mejor.
El supo que tu estabas sufriendo.
El supo que tu estabas en dolor.
el supos que tu nunca te aliviarias,
otravez en esta tierra.
el vio que el camino se estaba
poniendo dificil los cerros
duros para escalar, entonces el
cerro tus parpados cansados,
y diciendo "Paz este contigo"
Quebro nuestros corazones al
perderte a ti, pero tu no te
fuiste sola, porque parte de
nosotros se fue contigo el dia
que Dios te llamo a su casa.

Child

Through God’s grace you were ours for a little while.
Now you live in everlasting light,
forever God’s precious child.
You will live in our hearts, our thoughts,
and everything we do
And at the end of every day we, pray to God
And thank Him for the gift of you.

Miss Me - But Let Me Go

When I come to the end of the road
and the sun has set for me,
I want no rites in a gloom-filled room,
why cry for a soul set free.
Miss me a little, but not too long,
remember the love that we once shared.
Miss me, but let me go.
For this is a journey that we all must take
and each must go alone.
It is all a part of the Master's plan,
a step on the road to home.
When you are lonely and sick at heart,
go to the friends we know,
and bury your sorrows in doing good deeds.
Miss Me - But Let Me Go

Little Angels

When God calls little children to dwell with Him above,
We mortals sometimes question the wisdom of His love.
Perhaps God tires of calling the aged to His fold,
So He picks his rosebud before it can grow old.
God knows how much we need them and so
He takes but few
To make the land of Heaven more beautiful to view,
Believing this is difficult, still somehow we must try.
The saddest word mankind knows will always be “Goodbye”
So when a little child departs, we who are left behind
Must realize God loves children and angels are hard to find.

El Padre Nuestro

Amen

Jesus Loves Me

Jesus loves me, this I know;
For the Bible, tells me so.
Little ones to him belong
They are weak but He is strong.

Una Madre Se Fue

Una madre querida por todas se fue,
Su espiritu ya descanso.
Ella duerme en paz, su trabajo se termino,
El trabajo de una madre es el mejor
Ella sabra del placer de disfrutar un
descanso perfecto
Alla arriba en el cielo,
Donde ella morara satisfecha
Protejida por el amor de Dios.
Nuestros corazones sufrirán al dejarla
Bajo la tierra sagada,
No octante sabemus que ella vive en paz
En la casa de Dios

No One Leaves You

No one leaves you
When they live in
Your hearts and minds.

Oración a la Serenidad

Dios, concedeme serenidad para aceptar
las cosas que no puedo cambia,
valor para combiar aquellas que puedo,
y sabiduria para reconocer la diferencia.

Amen.

Something Beautiful Remains

The tide recedes but leaves behind bright
seashells on the sand.
The sun goes down, but gentle warmth
still lingers on the land.
The music stops, and yet it echoes on in sweet refrains…
For every joy that passes, something beautiful remains.