To live in the hearts and minds of those we leave behind

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Poems and Prayers

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A Farmer's Hands

Hands that are large and tough from many years of rugged, outdoor work.
Hands with fingers sensitive to music, but too thick to strike just one key on the piano, or a single string on a violin.
Hands that are versatile, simultaneously wielding an ax and swiping a fistful of pinch berries from a nearby bush.
Hands that clasp themselves habitually in prayer-giving thanks for food, for rain, for sun, for late frosts, early springs, good yield, for soil, for health, for a newborn calf.
Hands that are strong, squeezing out a pail full of milk in just no time, pulling strands of barbed wire taut, carrying mountains of hay and oceans of water to hungry, thirsty farm creatures.
Hands that are gentle, marveling at the softness of a furry kitten, rescuing a pheasant's nest from the path of the plow, patting the shoulder of a disappointed child.
Hands that are inventive, twisting, pounding, pinching, until a machine is fixed, shaping an idea into something useful.
Hands that are tired from over a half century of tilling, planting, weeding, harvesting.
Hands that we loved, a farmer's hands, Our father's and our grandfather's.

A Parting Word

Now please don't ask the question "why?" it is that we must say goodbye, for our earthly days are a fleeting gift and the sands of time must flow and shift.

But time well-spent I leave behind, so let dear memories cheer your mind. May the joys we shared along the way be a source of encouragement for you each day.

So continue on, and look to God's grace He will meet all your needs and give you peace. Yes, this is the faith that lived in my heart And I want the same for you while we are apart.

Now that I have gone on home to be with the One who gave his live for me, Rest assured I'm safe in Jesus' love And someday I'll see you in heaven above.

Cheryl Vogler-Frisch

A Season For Everything (Ecc. 3:1-8)

To every thing 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 silence, and a time to speak;
A time to love, and a time to hate; a time of war, and a time of peace.
Ecclesiastes 3:1-8

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.

Do Not Stand At My Grave and Weep

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 weep.
I am not there. I do not sleep.

Footprints In The Sand

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 paths of his life there was only one set of footprints. He also noticed that it 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 of my life, there is only one set of footprints. I don't understand why when I needed You most, You would leave me."
The Lord replied, "My son, My precious child, I love you and would never leave you. During your times of trials and suffering, when you see only one set of footprints, it was then that I carried you."

God Hath Not Promised

God hath not promised skies always blue, Flower-strewn pathways, all our lives through;

God hath not promised sun without rain, joy without sorrow, peace without pain.

God hath not promised we shall not know toil and temptation, trouble and woe;

He hath not told us we shall not bear many a burden, many a care.

But God hath promised strength for the day, rest for the laborer, light for the way, grace for the trials, help from above, unfailing sympathy, undying love.

God Saw Him/Her Getting Tired

God saw (him/her) getting tired, And a cure was not to be,

So He put His arms around (him/her) And whispered, "Come with Me".

With tearful hearts we watched (him/her) Slowly fade away.

Although we loved (him/her) dearly, We could not make (him/her) stay.

A golden heart stopped beating, Hard working hands to rest.

God broke our hearts to prove to us, He only takes the best.

Gone But Not Forgotten

The Angels sang Amazing Grace;
The Lord came down and
touched your face,
He held your hand and
whispered low,
"Come with Me, it's time to go."
The gates of Heaven
opened wide;
Angels lined up side by side.
A special guest was on (Her/ His) way,
the day the Lord led you away.

Guardian Angel

I'm Your Guardian Angel Up In The Heavens Shining Down On You I'll Stay Close Beside You I'm There to Guide You And Know That I Love You Too

Though I Could Not Say Goodbye I'll Be By Your Side Always Remember My Memories Are Here With You

Know That I Love, Know That I Care I'll Always Be With You Though I'm Not There.

Heaven

I've found a place where I can be free,
I've found a whole new beginning just made for me. I know only peace and I never feel pain;
Days are full of sunshine and never rain.
I'll never grow old, I'll always have my youth,
And all of my dreams will have become my truth.
I can smile, I can laugh, I can walk, I can run, I can hear every whisper, I can see past the sun.
My body is whole and my mind is so clear,
I know all the answers and I'm freed from all fear.
I know why you mourn me, I see how you weep,
Your heart's full of aching from a love that was deep.
And I'm grateful for loved ones that hold me so dear,
But remember, I've found a better place here.
I will always be with you, always nearby;
So don't mourn me long nor forever cry.
And whenever your sorrow bears down on your heart,
Think not of my ending, but of my new start.
For on earth there's no joy that I'd ever see,
To compare to the joy of God smiling at me.

His/Her Journey's Just Begun

Don't think of his/her as gone away –
His/Her journey's just begun,
Life holds so many facets –
This earth is only one.

Just think of her as resting
From the sorrows and the tears,
In a place of warmth and comfort
Where there are no days and years.

Think how she must be wishing
That we could know today
How nothing but our sadness
Can really pass away.

And think of her as living
In the hearts of those she touched...
For nothing loved is ever lost –
And she was loved so much.

E. Brenneman

I Have A Place In Heaven

Please don't sing sad songs for me,
Forget your grief and fears,
For I am in a perfect place,
Away from pain and tears...
I'm far away from hunger
And hurt and want and pride,
I have found a place in Heaven
With the Master at my side,
My life on earth was very good,
As earthly lives can go,
But Paradise is so much more
Than anyone can know...
My heart is filled with happiness
And sweet rejoicing, too.
To walk with God is perfect peace,
A joy forever new.

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 His 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 the peace at the close of 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.

Irish Blessing (May The Road Rise To Meet You)

May the road rise 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 your fields
And until we meet again
May God hold you in
the palm of His hand.

My Soul Is At Peace

Through storms and winds I have weathered the race, but my footsteps now glide at a tranquil pace.

Among springs of life and branches of palm, my soul is at peace amidst the clear and calm.

Jesus' voice falls gently upon my ears as the Lord wipes away all my tears.

A greater state of bliss I have never known as I come to rest in my heavenly home.

Cheryl Vogler-Frisch

Our Hearts Still Ache In Sadness

Our hearts still ache in sadness,
And secret tears still flow,
What it meant to lose you,
No one will ever know.

Rest Safely In His Care

There are many things in life
That we cannot understand,
But we must trust God's judgment
And be guided by His hand,
And all who have God's blessing
Can rest safely in His care,
For He promises safe passage
On the wings of faith and prayer.

Helen Steiner Rice

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 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 remaineth –
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!

The Fisherman's Prayer

God grant that I may live to fish
Until my dying day.

And when it comes to my last cast
I then most humbly pray
When in the Lord's safe landing net
I am peacefully asleep,
That in His mercy I be judged
As big enough to keep.

The Mater's Bouquet

The Master walked in His garden,
Plucking flowers along the way;
He plucked one of my loved ones,
To add to His bouquet.

My heart at first was broken,
At the loss of one so dear;
But the tears I shed just washed my eyes,
So I saw His way more clear.

My Lord has a need for just this one,
For the pattern He has in mind;
But it's hard for the rest of us to see
Why we must be left behind.

Perhaps we are not ready to go just yet
We may need to ripen more
To reach the full blown fragrance
My Lord is waiting for.

To each give forth a fragrance
To each we chance to meet
We should each be trying day by day
To make our fragrance sweet.

So I'm going to try my very best
To be loving and kind each day,
So at last I'll be counted worthy
To be part of my Master's Bouquet.

The Road That Leads To Home

I've been on a long, long journey,
And it's been a rough old road,
But I just keep pressing onward,
Tho' I carry a heavy load.
Many times I've asked the question:
"Why do I keep plodding on?"
It's then I am reminded:
This old road will lead me home.

Tho' I stumble on the pathway,
Tho' I fall along the way,
There's still hope for my tomorrows,
And there's strength for me today.
For there's a Hand that stretches downward,
Makes my feet to walk again.
Tho' my journey may be rugged,
He'll be with me ‘til the end.

Yes, this old road has been rocky,
But I travel not alone.
My dear Lord is ever with me-
As I cross each stepping stone.
Day by day, we're getting closer
To those gates that will swing wide-
Where I'll be "welcomed home" to Heaven,
As Jesus leads me safe inside.

D. Sue Jones Horton

To Those I Loved

To Those I Loved 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 it's time I traveled 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 while that we must part
So bless 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 you can't see or touch me, I'll be near
And if you listen with your heart, you'll hear
All of my love around you soft and clear

And then, when you must come this way alone,
I'll greet you with a smile, and a "Welcome home!".

By Rev. Bill Alexander

You Are Not Forgotten

You are not forgotten loved one
Nor will you ever be
As long as life and memory last
We will miss thee
We will miss you now
Our hearts are sore
As time goes by
We miss you more

You Have Walked In The Sunshine

You have walked in sunshine and in shadows.
You have faced life's storms and enjoyed the rainbows. You've climbed your mountains,
dreamed your dreams, faced your fears, cried
your tears, sung your songs, and reached for
stars. You've done it all with faith and love,
and as you journey on to find tomorrow,
go with love...
and, always, go with God.

Psalm 121

I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills,
from whence cometh my help.
My help cometh from the Lord,
which made heaven and earth.
The Lord is thy keeper: the Lord
is thy shade upon thy right hand.
The sun shall not smite thee by day,
nor the moon by night.
The Lord shall preserve thee
from all evil:
He shall preserve thy soul.
The Lord shall preserve thy going out
and thy coming in from this time
forth, and even for evermore.

Psalm 121

23rd Psalm

The Lord is my Shepherd; I shall
not want. He maketh me 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.

The 23rd Psalm