Death Is Nothing At All
By Henry Scott Holland

Death is nothing at all.
I have only slipped into the next room.
I am I and you are you. Whatever we were to each other, that we are still. Call me by my old familiar name. Speak of me in the easy way which you always used. Put no difference in your tone. Wear no forced air of solemnity or sorrow. Laugh as we always laughed at the little jokes we enjoyed together. Play, smile, think of me, pray for me. Let my name be ever the household word that it always was. Let it be spoken without effect, without the trace of shadow on it. Life means all that it ever meant. It is the same as it ever was, there is unbroken continuity. Why should I be out of mind because I am out of sight? I am waiting for you, for an interval, somewhere very near, just around the corner. All is well.

 

You’ve Just Walked On Ahead of Me
By Joyce Grenfell

You’ve just walked on ahead of me
And I’ve got to understand
You must release the ones you love
And let go of their hand.
I try and cope the best I can
But I’m missing you so much
If I could only see you
And once more feel your touch.
Yes, you’ve just walked on ahead of me
Don’t worry I’ll be fine
But now and then I swear I feel
Your hand slip into mine.

 

Beyond The Empty Chair

Look beyond the empty chair
To know a life well spent
Look beyond the solitude
To days of true content
Cherish in your broken heart
Each moment gladly shared
And feel the touch of memory
Beyond the empty chair.

 

It's Strange

It's strange we don't appreciate
the things we see each day
We never know their value
till they're cruelly snatched away
Things I took for granted then,
her voice, her smile, her touch
I always knew I loved her
but I never knew how much

 

Farewell My Friends
By Rabindranath Tagore

Farewell my friends.
It was beautiful as long as it lasted,
the journey of my life.
I have no regrets whatsoever,
said the pain I’ll leave behind.
Those dear hearts who love and care...
And the strings pulling at the heart and soul...
The strong arms that held me up
When my own strength let me down.
At the turning of my life
I came across good friends,
Friends who stood by me even when 
time raced me by.
Farewell, farewell my friends.
I smile and bid you goodbye.
No, shed no tears for I need them not
All I need is your smile.
If you feel sad do think of me
for that’s what I’ll like
When you live in the hearts of those you love
Remember then you never die.

 

Weep Not For Me

Weep not for me though I am gone
into that gentle night
Grieve if you will, but not for long 
upon my soul's sweet flight
I am at peace, my soul's at rest
there is no need for tears.
For with your love I was so blessed
for all those many years.
There is no pain, I suffer not,
the fear now all is gone.
Put now these things out of your thoughts
in your memory I live on.
Remember not my fight for breath.
Remember not the strife
Please do not dwell upon my death,
but celebrate my life.

 

Irish Blessing

May the roads rise up to meet you,
May the wind be always at your back,
May the sun shine warm upon your face,
May the rains fall soft upon fields
And until we meet again
May God hold you in the palm of his hand.

 

If I Should Go Tomorrow

If I should go tomorrow 
it would never be goodbye, 
For I have left my heart with you, 
so don’t you ever cry.
The love that’s deep within me, 
shall reach you from the stars, 
You’ll feel it from the heavens, 
and it will heal the scars.

 

Her Smile

Though her smile is gone forever
and her hand I cannot touch
I still have so many memories
Of the one I loved so much.
Her memory is now my keepsake
Which with I’ll never part.
God has her in her keeping
I have her in my heart.

 

Not, How Did He Die, But How Did He Live?

Not, how did he die, but how did he live?
Not, what did he gain, but what did he give?
These are the units to measure the worth
Of a man as a man, regardless of his birth.
Nor what was his church, nor what was his creed?
But had he befriended those really in need?
Was he ever ready, with words of good cheer,
To bring back a smile, to banish a tear?
Not what did the sketch in the newspaper say,
But how many were sorry when he passed away?

 

Precious Memory

The rain may wash my pain away
The wind may dry my tears
The Summer sun may heal my heart
And time subdue my fears
But nothing in the world below
Or in the Heavens above
Will ever take away
The precious memory of your love.

 

When I Must Leave You
By Helen Steiner Rice

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 for 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 in cheer
And I in turn will comfort you and hold you near;
And never, never be afraid to die
For I am waiting for you in the sky!

 

The Star

A light went out on Earth for me
the day we said goodbye
And on that day a star was born,
the brightest in the sky
Reaching through the darkness
with its rays of purest white
Lighting up the Heavens
as it once lit up my life
With beams of love to heal
the broken heart you left behind
Where always in my memory
your lovely star will shine

 

Love Lives On

Those we love remain with us
for love itself lives on,
and cherished memories never fade
because a loved one’s gone.
Those we love can never
be more than a thought apart,
far as long as there is memory,
they’ll live on in the heart.

 

Let Me Go
By Christina Rosetti

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 for long
And not with your head bowed low
Remember the love that once we shared
Miss me, but let me go.
For this is a journey we all must take
And each must go alone.
It’s all part of the master plan
A step on the road to home.
When you are lonely and sick at heart
Go the friends we know.
Laugh at all the things we used to do
Miss me, but let me go.
When I am dead my dearest
Sing no sad songs for me
Plant thou no roses at my head
Nor shady cypress tree
Be the green grass above me
With showers and dewdrops wet
And if thou wilt remember
And if thou wilt, forget.
I shall not see the shadows,
I shall not fear the rain;
I shall not hear the nightingale
Sing on as if in pain;
And dreaming through the twilight
That doth not rise nor set,
Haply I may remember,
And haply may forget.

 

I’ll Be There

There was no time to say goodbye
But this I ask – please do not cry
Remember me as you think best
The happy time – forget the rest.
Look for me and I’ll be there
And you will find me everywhere
In the gentle touch of breeze
That cools the skin or swirls the leaves.
In the scent and colour of flowers
That gave to me such happy hours
On sunny days under sunny skies of blue
Just think of me, I’ll be with you.
In winter when there’s cloud or mist
The rain will give to you my kiss
As wood smoke lingers in the air
Look for me and I’ll be there.
Where seagulls cry above the sea
And surf rolls in so endlessly
Among towering trees that soar above
In all these things that I once loved
Look for me and I’ll be there
You’ll feel my presence everywhere.

 

Memories in the Heart

Feel no guilt in laughter,
she knows how much you care
Feel no sorrow in a smile
that she’s not here to share
You cannot grieve forever,
she would not want you to
She’d hope that you can carry on,
the way you always do
So talk about the good times
and the ways you showed you cared
The days you spent together,
all the happiness you shared
Let memories surround you.
A word someone may say
Will suddenly recapture
a time, an hour, a day
That brings her back as clearly
as though she were still here
And fills you with the feelings
that she is always near
For if you keep these moments,
you will never be apart
And she will live forever locked
safe within your heart.

 

God’s Garden

God looked around his garden
and found an empty place
He then looked down upon the Earth
and saw your tired face
He put his arms around you
and lifted you to rest
Gods 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 too hard to climb
He closed your weary eyelids
and whispered “Peace be Thine”
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.

 

If We Could Bring You Back Again
By Joanna Fuchs

If we could bring you back again,
For one more hour or day,
We’d express all our unspoken love;
We’d have countless things to say.
If we could bring you back again,
We’d say we treasured you,
And that your presence in our lives
Meant more than we ever knew.
If we could bring you back again,
To tell you what we should,
You’d know how much we miss you now,
And if we could, we would.

 

The Final Flight

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

 

My Mother Kept A Garden

My Mother kept a garden
a garden of the heart;
She planted all the good things,
that gave my life its start.
She turned me to the sunshine,
and encouraged me to dream:
Fostering and nurturing
the seeds of self-esteem.
And when the winds and rains came,
she protected me enough;
But not too much, she knew I’d need
to stand up strong and tough.
Her constant good example,
always taught me right from wrong;
Markers for my pathway
to last my whole life long.
I am my Mother’s garden,
I am her legacy.
And I hope today she feels the love,
reflected back from me.

 

A Letter From Heaven 
By Ruth Ann Mahaffey

To my dearest family,
some things Id like to say.
But first of all, to let you know,
that I arrived okay.
I'm writing this from heaven.
Here I dwell with God above.
Here, there’s no more tears of sadness;
here is just eternal love.
Please do not be unhappy
just because I'm out of sight.
Remember that I am with you
every morning, noon and night.
That day I had to leave you
when my life on earth was through.
God picked me up and hugged me
and He said, I welcome you.
Its good to have you back again,
you were missed while you were gone.
As for your dearest family,
They'll be here later on.
I need you here so badly,
you are part of my plan.
There is so much that we can do,
to help our mortal man.
God gave me a list of things,
that he wished for me to do.
And foremost on the list,
was to watch and care for you.
And when you lie in bed at night
the days chores put to flight.
God and I are closest to you....
in the middle of the night.
When you think of my life on earth,
and all those loving years.
Because you are only human,
they are bound to bring you tears.
But do not be afraid to cry;
it does relieve the pain.
Remember there would be no flowers,
unless there was some rain.
I wish that I could tell you
all that God has planned.
If I were to tell you,
you wouldn't understand.
But one thing is for certain,
though my life on earth is over.
I'm closer to you now,
than I ever was before.
There are rocky roads ahead of you
and many hills to climb;
But together we can do it
by taking one day at a time.
It was always my philosophy
and Id like it for you too;
That as you give unto the world,
the world will give to you.
If you can help somebody
who is in sorrow and pain;
Then you can say to God at night....
My day was not in vain.
And now I am contented...
that my life was worthwhile.
Knowing as I passed along the way
I made somebody smile.
So if you meet somebody
who is sad and feeling low;
Just lend a hand to pick them up,
as on your way you go.
When you're walking down the street
and you've got me on your mind;
I'm walking in your footsteps
only half a step behind.
And when its time for you to go...
from that body to be free.
Remember you're not going...
you're coming here to me.

 

If Tears Could Build A Stairway

If tears could build a stairway
and thoughts a memory lane
I'd walk right up to heaven
and bring you home again
No Farewell words were spoken
no time to say good-bye
You were gone before I knew it
and only God knows why.
My heart's still active in sadness
and secret tears still flow
What it meant to lose you
no-one can ever know.
But now I know you want us
to mourn for you no more
To remember all the happy times
life still has much in store.
Since you'll never be forgotten
I pledge to you today
A hallowed place within my heart
is where you'll always stay.

 

When I Must Leave You
By Helen Steiner Rice

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 I in turn will comfort you and hold you near;
And never never be afraid to die,
For I am waiting for you in the sky!

 

To Those Whom I love & Those Who Love 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 too many tears,
But be thankful we had so many good years.
I gave you my love, and you can only guess
How much you’ve given me in happiness.
I thank you for the love that you have shown,
But now it is time I travelled on alone.
So grieve for me a while, if grieve you must,
Then let your grief be comforted by trust.
It is only for a while that we must part,
So treasure the memories within your heart.
I won’t be far away for life goes on.
And if you need me, call and I will come.
Though you can’t see or touch me, I will be near.
And if you listen with your heart, you’ll hear,
All my love around you soft and clear.
And then, when you come this way alone,
I’ll greet you with a smile and a ‘Welcome Home’.

 

Remember Me

Don’t remember me with sadness,
don’t remember me with tears,
Remember all the laughter,
we’ve shared throughout the years.
Now I am contented
that my life it was worthwhile,
Knowing as I passed along the way
I made somebody smile.
When you are walking down the street
and you’ve got me on your mind,
I’m walking in your footsteps
only half a step behind.
So please don’t be unhappy
just because I’m out of sight,
Remember that I’m with you
each morning, noon and night.

 

Don’t Cry for Me

Don’t cry for me now I have died,
for I’m still here I’m by your side.
My body’s gone but my soul is here,
please don’t shed another tear.
I am still here I’m all around,
only my body lies in the ground.
I am the snowflake that kisses your nose,
I am the frost, that nips your toes.
I am the sun, bringing you light,
I am the star, shining so bright.
I am the rain, refreshing the earth,
I am the laughter, I am the mirth.
I am the bird, up in the sky,
I am the cloud, that’s drifting by.
I am the thoughts, inside your head,
while I’m still there, I can’t be dead.

 

The Dash
By Linda Ellis 

I read of a man who stood to speak
at the funeral of a friend.
He referred to the dates on the tombstone
from the beginning… to the end.
He noted that first came the date of birth
and spoke of the following date with tears,
but he said what mattered most of all
was the dash between those years.
For that dash represents all the time
they spent alive on earth
and now only those who loved them know
what that little line is worth.
For it matters not, how much we own,
the cars… the house… the cash.
What matters is how we live and love
and how we spend our dash.
So think about this long and hard;
are there things you’d like to change?
For you never know how much time is left
that still can be rearranged.
To be less quick to anger
and show appreciation more
and love the people in our lives
like we’ve never loved before.
If we treat each other with respect
and more often wear a smile…
remembering that this special dash
might only last a little while.
So when your eulogy is being read,
with your life’s actions to rehash,
would you be proud of the things they say
about how you lived your dash?

 

They Say There Is A Reason

They say there is a reason,
they say that time will heal,
But neither time or reason,
will change the way we feel.
For no one knows the heartache
that lies beyond our smiles,
No one knows how many times
we have broken down and cried.
We want to tell you something,
so there won’t be any doubt,
You’re so wonderful to think of,
but so hard to be without.
We cannot bring the old days back
when we were all together
The family chain is broken now
but memories live forever.

 

You Only Have One Mother

You only have one mother,
patient, kind and true;
No other friend in all the world
will be the same to you.
When other friends forsake you,
to mother you will return;
For all her loving kindness
she asks nothing in return.
As we look upon her picture
sweet memories we recall
Of a face so full of sunshine
and a smile for one and all.
Sweet Jesus take this message
to our dear mother up above;
Tell her how we miss her
and give her all our love.

 

Loving Memories (Your Gentle Face)

Your gentle face and patient smile
With sadness we recall,
You had a kindly word for each
And died beloved by all.
The voice is mute and stilled the heart
That loved us well and true,
Ah, bitter was the trial to part
From one so good as you.
You are not forgotten loved one
Nor will you ever be,
As long as life and memory last
We will remember thee.
We miss you now, our hearts are sore,
As time goes by we miss you more.
Your loving smile, your gentle face,
No one can fill your empty place.

 

One At Rest

Think of me as one at rest,
for me you should not weep
I have no pain no troubled thoughts,
for I am just asleep.
The living thinking me that was,
is now forever still,
And life goes on without me now,
as time forever will.
If your heart is heavy now
because I’ve gone away
Dwell not long upon it friend
for none of us can stay.
Those of you who liked me,
I sincerely thank you all
And those of you who loved me,
I thank you most of all.
And in my fleeting lifespan,
as time went rushing by,
I found some time to hesitate,
to laugh, to love, to cry.
Matters it now if time began,
if time will ever cease?
I was here, I used it all,
and now I am at peace.

 

Funeral Blues
By W. H. Auden

Stop all the clocks, cut off the telephone,
Prevent the dog from barking with a juicy bone,
Silence the pianos and with muffled drum
Bring out the coffin, let the mourners come.
Let airplanes circle moaning overhead
Scribbling on the sky the message “He is Dead”,
Put Crepe bows round the white necks of the public doves,
Let the traffic policemen wear black cotton gloves.
He was my North, my South, my East and West,
My working week and my Sunday-rest,
My noon, my midnight, my talk , my song;
I thought that love would last forever: I was wrong
The stars are not wanted now: put out every one;
Pack up the moon and dismantle the sun;
Pour away the ocean and sweep up the wood,
For nothing now can ever come to any good.

 

Memories Build a Special Bridge
By Emily Matthews

Our memories build a special bridge
when loved ones have to part
to help us feel we're with them still
and sooth a grieving heart.
Our memories span the years we shared,
preserving ties that bind,
They build a special bridge of love
and bring us peace of mind.

 

A Mother’s Crown

Heaven lit up with a mighty presence,
as the Angels all looked down.
Today the Lord was placing the jewels
Into my mother’s crown.
He held up a golden crown,
as my darling mother looked on.
He said in His gentle voice,
‘I will now explain each one.’
‘The first gem,’ He said, ‘is a Ruby,
and it’s for endurance alone,
for all the nights you waited up
for your children to come home.’
‘For all the nights by their bedside,
you stayed till the fever went down.
For nursing every little wound,
I add this ruby to your crown.’
‘An emerald, I’ll place by the ruby,
for leading your child in the right way.
For teaching them the lessons,
That made them who they are today.’
‘For always being right there,
through all life’s important events.
I give you a sapphire stone,
for the time and love you spent.’
‘For untying the strings that held them,
when they grew up and left home.
I give you this one for courage.’
Then the Lord added a garnet stone.
‘I’ll place a stone of amethyst,’ He said.
‘For all the times you spent on your knees,
when you asked if I’d take care of your children,
and then for having faith in Me.’
‘I have a pearl for every little sacrifice
that you made without them knowing.
For all the times you went without,
to keep them happy, healthy and growing.’
‘And last of all I have a diamond,
the greatest one of all,
for sharing unconditional love
whether they were big or small.’
‘It was your love that helped them grow
Feeling safe and happy and proud
A love so strong and pure
It could shift the darkest cloud.’
After the Lord placed the last jewel in,
He said, ‘Your crown is now complete,
You’ve earned your place in Heaven
With your children at your feet.’

 

Remember Me
By Margaret Mead

 To the living, I am gone, 
To the sorrowful, I will never return, 
To the angry, I was cheated, 
But to the happy, I am at peace, 
And to the faithful, I have never left.
I cannot speak, but I can listen. 
I cannot be seen, but I can be heard. 
So as you stand upon a shore
gazing at a beautiful sea, 
As you look upon a flower and admire its simplicity, 
Remember me. Remember me in your heart: 
Your thoughts, and your memories, 
Of the times we loved,  the times we cried, 
The times we fought,  the times we laughed. 
For if you always think of me, I will never have gone.

 

Child of Mine
By Edgar Albert Guest

I‘ll lend you for a little time
a child of Mine, He said,
For you to love 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
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,
not think the labour 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‘ll 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.

 

I Am Standing Upon The Seashore
By Henry Van Dyke

I am standing upon the seashore.
A ship at my side spreads her white
sails to the morning breeze and starts for the blue ocean. She is an object of beauty and strength. I stand and watch her until at length
she hangs like a speck of white cloud just where the sea and sky come to mingle with each other. Then, someone at my side says; "There, she is gone!" "Gone where?" Gone from my sight. That is all. She is just as large in mast and hull and spar as she was when she left my side and she is just as able to bear her load of living freight to her destined port. Her diminished size is in me, not in her. And just at the moment when someone at my side says, "There, she is gone!" There are other eyes watching her coming, and other voices ready to take up the glad shout;
"Here she comes!" And that is dying.

 

If I Should Go
By Joyce Grenfell

If I should go before the rest of you
Break not a flower nor inscribe a stone
Nor when I'm gone speak in a Sunday voice
But be the usual selves that I have known
Weep if you must, parting is Hell
But life goes on so sing as well.

 

My Journey’s Just Begun
By Ellen Brenneman

Don't think of me as gone away
My journey's just begun
Life holds so many facets
This earth is but one
Just think of me as resting
From the sorrows and the tears
In a place of warmth and comfort
Where there are no days and years
Think of how I must be wishing
That you could know today
How nothing but your sadness
Can really go away
And think of me as living
In the hearts of those I touched
For nothing loved is ever lost
And I know I was loved so much

 

Poem Of Life

Life is but a stopping place,
a pause in what's to be,
A resting place along the road,
to sweet eternity.
We all have different journeys,
different paths along the way,
We all were meant to learn some things,
but never meant to stay...
Our destination is a place,
far greater than we know.
For some the journey's quicker,
for some the journey's slow.
And when the journey finally ends,
we'll claim a great reward,
And find an everlasting peace,
together with the lord.

 

Precious Flower

Lord take my tiny precious flower
who had no time to bloom
Lift her gently in your arms
and find a little room
In the Heavenly garden
that you planted high above
Then care for her and keep her safe
within your perfect love
Find a little corner
in a quiet sheltered place
Where she can feel the healing sun
caress her lovely face
Give her the tender caring
that I can no longer give
Hold her with your gentle hands
and let her fragrance live
The dearest and the loveliest
of flowers that ever grew
My precious gift from Heaven
I return, dear Lord, to you.

 

When I’m Gone
By Mosiah Lyman

 When I come to the end of my journey
And I travel my last weary mile
Just forget if you can, that I ever frowned
And remember only the smile
Forget unkind words I have spoken
Remember some good I have done
Forget that I ever had heartache
And remember I've had loads of fun
Forget that I've stumbled and blundered
And sometimes fell by the way
Remember I have fought some hard battles
And won, ere the close of the day
Then forget to grieve for my going
I would not have you sad for a day
But in summer just gather some flowers
And remember the place where I lay
And come in the shade of evening
When the sun paints the sky in the west
Stand for a few moments beside me
And remember only my best

 

When We Lose A Loved One

When we lose a loved one
Our world just falls apart
We think that we cant carry on
With this broken heart
Everything is different now
You’re upset and you’re annoyed
Your world it seems is shattered
There’s such an awful void
There’s got to be a reason
And we have to understand
God made us and at any time
Hell reach down for our hand
There might not be a warning
We won’t know where or when
The only thing were certain of
Is well meet them once again.

 

The Broken Chain
By Ron Tranmer

We little knew the day
that God was going to call your name.
In life we loved you dearly,
in death we do the same.
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 left us peaceful memories.
Your love is still our guide,
And though we cannot see you
you are always at our side.
Our family chain is broken
and nothing seems the same,
but as God calls us one by one
the chain will link again.

 

When Tomorrow Starts Without Me
By David M. Romano

When tomorrow starts without me
and I am not here to see
If the sun should rise and find your eyes
all filled with tears for me
I know how much you love me
as much as I love you
And each time you think of me
I know you’ll miss me too.
But when tomorrow starts without me
please try to understand
That Jesus came and called my name
and took me by the hand.
He said my place is ready
in heaven far above
And that I have to leave behind
all those I dearly love.
But as I turned to walk away
a tear fell from my eye
For all my life I’d always thought
it wasn’t my time to die.
I had so much to live for
and so much yet to do
It seems almost impossible
that I was leaving you.
I thought of all the yesterdays
the good ones and the bad
I thought of all the love we shared
and all the fun we had.
If I could have stayed for just a little while
I’d say goodbye and kiss you
and maybe see you smile.
But then I fully realize
that this could never be
For emptiness and memories
would take the place of me.
And when I thought of worldly things
that I’d miss come tomorrow
I thought of you and when I did
my heart was filled with sorrow.
But when I walked through Heaven’s gate
and felt so much at home
As God looked down and smiled at me
from his great golden throne.
He said this is eternity
and all I’ve promised you
Today your life on earth is past
but here it starts anew.
I promise no tomorrow
but today will always last
And since each day’s the same here
there’s no longing for the past.
So when tomorrow starts without me
don’t think we’re far apart,
For every time you think of me
I’m right here in your heart.

 

It’s a Time of Heartfelt Sadness
By Ron Tranmer

It’s a time of heartfelt sadness
When a loved one passes on
But know your loved one lives in joy
And peace where he (or she) has gone
Oh how much he will be missed
That’s where the sadness lies
But others who have missed him
now rejoice in Heaven’s skies
We know one day we’ll join him
Because our time on earth will flee
We’ll then live with him forever
Throughout all eternity.

 

In Flanders Fields
By Lieutenant-Colonel John McCrae

In Flanders fields the poppies blow 
Between the crosses, row on row, 
That mark our place; and in the sky 
The larks, still bravely singing, fly 
Scarce heard amid the guns below. 
We are the Dead. Short days ago 
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow, 
Loved and were loved, and now we lie 
In Flanders fields. 
Take up our quarrel with the foe: 
To you from failing hands we throw 
The torch; be yours to hold it high. 
If ye break faith with us who die 
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow 
In Flanders fields.

 

I Heard Your Voice In The Wind Today

I heard your voice in the wind today
and I turned to see your face;
The warmth of the wind caressed me
as I stood silently in place.
I felt your touch in the sun today
as its warmth filled the sky;
I closed my eyes for your embrace
and my spirit soared high.
I saw your eyes in the window pane
as I watched the falling rain;
It seemed as each raindrop fell
it quietly said your name.
I held you close in my heart today
it made me feel complete;
You may have died...but you are not gone
you will always be a part of me.
As long as the sun shines...
the wind blows...the rain falls...
You will live on inside of me forever
for that is all my heart knows.

 

Because I Love You So

Time will not dim the face I love,
The voice I heard each day,
The many things you did for me,
In your own special way.
All my life I’ll miss you,
As the years come and go,
But in my heart I’ll keep you,
Because I love you so.

 

Legacy Of Love

A wife, a mother, a grandma too,
This is the legacy we have from you.
You taught us love and how to fight,
You gave us strength, you gave us might.
A stronger person would be hard to find,
And in your heart, you were always kind.
You fought for us all in one way or another,
Not just as a wife not just as a mother.
For all of us you gave your best,
Now the time has come for you to rest.
So go in peace, you've earned your sleep,
Your love in our hearts, we'll eternally keep.

 

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.

 

Thought of You Today

I thought of you with love today
but that is nothing new
I thought about you yesterday
and days before that too,
I think of you in silence...
I often speak your name
All I have are memories
and your picture in a frame
Your memory is my keepsake
with which I’ll never part
God has you in His keeping
I have you in my heart.

 

If Roses grow in Heaven
By Kirsten Preus

If Roses grow in Heaven Lord,
please pick a bunch for me.
Place them in my Mother's arms
and tell her they're from me.
Tell her that I love her and miss her,
and when she turns to smile,
place a kiss upon her cheek
and hold her for awhile.
Because remembering her is easy,
I do it every day,
but there's an ache within my heart
that will never go away.

 

Gone Fishing
By Dalmar Pepper

I’ve finished life’s chores assigned to me,
So put me on a boat headed out to sea.
Please send along my fishing pole
For I’ve been invited to the fishin’ hole.
Where every day is a day to fish,
To fill your heart with every wish.
Don’t worry, or feel sad for me,
I’m fishin’ with the Master of the sea.
We will miss each other for awhile,
But you will come and bring your smile.
That won’t be long you will see,
Till we’re together you and me.
To all of those that think of me,
Be happy as I go out to sea.
If others wonder why I’m missin’
Just tell ’em I’ve gone fishin'.

 

Do Not Stand At My Grave and Weep
By Mary Frye

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 glints 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.

 

The Rose Beyond The Wall
By A. L. Frink

A rose once grew where all could see,
sheltered beside a garden wall,
And as the days passed swiftly by,
it spread its branches, straight and tall...
One day, a beam of light shone through
a crevice that had opened wide
The rose bent gently toward its warmth
then passed beyond to the other side
Now, you who deeply feel its loss,
be comforted - the rose blooms there-
its beauty even greater now, nurtured by
God's own loving care.

 

We Will Meet Again

Although our worlds are different now
Or is that just how it seems?
For I see you when I close my eyes
Because you’re always in my dreams.
I know you’re up in Heaven
And looking down on me.
And when I look up at the stars
I know that’s where you’ll be.
Even though I miss you,
you’re not too far away.
Because my heart is full of memories
And I treasure them everyday.
Our time on Earth was special,
But it’s only the very start.
So please keep watching over me
While we’re not so far apart.
Someday the time will come
When I no longer feel this pain.
That is the day when Heaven calls
And we will meet again.

 

This Is Not The End

Although the time has come
For us to briefly part
You’ll never be that far away
Because you’re always in my heart.
All the memories that we treasured
Will never disappear,
I’ll think of them when I’m lonely
And I know you’ll still be near.
The tears are still falling
And I think about the past,
You’ll be remembered everyday,
Until my heart beats it’s very last.
We may never share this world again,
this I cannot pretend,
but just remember this is the beginning…
this is not the end.

 

Afterglow

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.

 

Look for me in Rainbows
By Vicky Brown

Time for me to go now,
I won’t say goodbye;
Look for me in rainbows,
way up in the sky.
In the morning sunrise
when all the world is new,
Just look for me and love me,
as you know I loved you.
Time for me to leave you,
I won’t say goodbye;
Look for me in rainbows,
high up in the sky.
In the evening sunset,
when all the world is through,
Just look for me and love me,
and I’ll be close to you.
It won’t be forever,
the day will come and then
My loving arms will hold you,
when we meet again.
Time for us to part now,
we won’t say goodbye;
Look for me in rainbows,
shining in the sky.
Every waking moment,
and all your whole life through
Just look for me and love me,
as you know I loved you.
Just wish me to be near you,
And I’ll be there with you.

 

Pardon Me for Not Getting Up

Oh dear, if you’re reading this right now,
I must have given up the ghost.
I hope you can forgive me for being
such a stiff and unwelcoming host.
Just talk amongst yourself my friends,
and share a toast or two.
For I am sure you will remember well
how I loved to drink with you.
Don’t worry about mourning me,
I was never easy to offend.
Feel free to share a story at my expense
and we’ll have a good laugh at the end.

 

Footprints In The Sand

One night I dreamed a dream.  I was walking along the beach with my Lord. Across the dark sky flashed scenes from my life. For each scene, I noticed two sets of footprints in the sand, one belonging to me and one to my Lord. After the last scene of my life flashed before me, I looked back at the footprints in the sand. I noticed that at many times along the path of my life, especially at the very lowest and saddest times, there was only one set of footprints. This really troubled me, so I asked the Lord about it. "Lord, you said once I decided to follow you, you'd walk with me all the way. But I noticed that during the saddest and most troublesome times of my life, there was only one set of footprints. I don't understand why, when I needed you the most, you would leave me." He whispered, "My precious child, I love you and will never leave you never, ever, during your trials and testings. When you saw only one set of footprints, it was then that I carried you."

 

She Is Gone (He Is Gone)
By David Harkins

You can shed tears that she is gone
Or you can smile because she has lived
You can close your eyes
and pray that she will come back
Or you can open your eyes
and see all that she has left
Your heart can be empty
because you can’t see her
Or you can be full of the love
that you shared
You can turn your back on tomorrow
and live yesterday
Or you can be happy for tomorrow
because of yesterday
You can remember her
and only that she is gone
Or you can cherish her memory
and let it live on
You can cry and close your mind,
be empty and turn your back
Or you can do what she would want:
smile, open your eyes, love and go on.

 

Snowdrops

The world may never notice
if a Snowdrop doesn't bloom,
Or even pause to wonder
if the petals fall too soon.
But every life that ever forms,
or ever comes to be,
Touches the world in some small way
for all eternity.
The little one we longed for
was swiftly here and gone.
But the love that was then planted
is a light that still shines on.
And though our arms are empty,
our hearts know what to do.
For every beating of our hearts
says that we love you.

 

God Saw You Getting Tired
By Rhonda Braswell

God saw you getting tired
and a cure was not to be
So He put His arms around you
and whispered ‘Come with Me.’
With tearful eyes we watched you suffer
and saw you fade away,
Although we loved you dearly
we could not make you stay.
A golden heart stopped beating,
hard working hands at rest,
God broke our hearts to prove
He only takes the best.
It’s lonesome here without you,
we miss you more each day,
Life doesn’t seem the same
since you’ve gone away.
When days are sad and lonely
and everything goes wrong,
We seem to hear you whisper
‘Cheer up and carry on.’
Each time we see your picture,
you seem to smile and say
‘Don’t cry, I’m in God’s keeping,
we’ll meet again someday.’
You never said ‘I’m leaving’,
you never said goodbye,
You were gone before we knew it,
and only God knew why.
A million times we needed you,
a million times we cried,
If love alone could have saved you,
you never would have died.
In life we loved you dearly,
in death we love you still,
In our hearts you hold a place,
that no one could ever fill.
It broke our hearts to lose you,
but you didn’t go alone,
For part of us went with you,
the day God took you home.

 

I Am Free
By Shannon Lee Moseley 

Don’t grieve for me, for now I’m free,
I’m following the path God laid for me.
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 undone must stay that way
I’ve found that peace at the close of the day.
If parting has left a void,
then fill it with remembered joy.
A friendship shared, a laugh, a kiss,
Ah, yes, these things I too will miss.
Be not burdened with times of sorrow
I wish for you the sunshine of tomorrow.
My life’s been full, I savoured 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 share with me,
God wants me now, He set me free.

 

Let Me Go
By Christina Rossetti

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 for long
and not with your head bowed low
Remember the love that once we shared.
Miss me, but let me go.
For this is a journey we all must take
and each must go alone.
It’s all part of the master plan,
a step on the road to home.
When you are lonely and sick at heart,
go to the friends we know.
Laugh at all the things we used to do.
Miss me, but let me go.

 

The Measure Of A Man

Not how did he die, but how did he live?
Not what did he gain, but what did he give?
These are the units to measure the worth
Of a man as a man, regardless of birth.
Not what was his church, nor what was his creed?
But had he befriended those really in need?
Was he ever ready, with word of good cheer.
To bring back a smile, to banish a tear?
Not what did the sketch in the newspaper say
But how many were sorry when he passed away.