~The Words You Speak~

I've heard it said don't go to bed

while hanging on to sorrow,

you may not have the chance to laugh

with those you love tomorrow.

You may not mean the words you speak

when anger takes its toll,

you may regret your actions

once you've lost your self control.

When you've lost your temper

and you've said some hurtful things,

think about the heartache

that your actions sometime bring.

You'll never get those moments back,

such precious time to waste,

and all because of things you said

in anger and in haste.

So if you're loving someone

and your pride has settled in,

you may not ever have the chance

to say to them again...

"I love you and I miss you

and although we don't agree,

I'll try to see your point of view,

please do the same for me."

Author Unknown

~Struggle With Loss~

We do not need a special day to bring you to our minds.

The days we do not think of you are very hard to find.

Each morning when we awake we know that you are gone.

And no one knows the heartache as we try to carry on.

Our hearts still ache with sadness and secret tears still flow.

What it meant to lose you no one will ever know.

Our thoughts are always with you, your place no one can fill.

In life we loved you dearly; in death we love you still.

There will always to be a heartache, and often a silent tear.

But always a precious memory of the days when you were here.

If tears would make a staircase, and heartaches make a lane,

We'd walk the path to heaven and bring you home again.

We hold you close within our hearts; and there you will remain,

To walk with us throughout our lives until we meet again.

Our family chain is broken now, and nothing seems the same,

But as God calls us one by one, the chain will link again.

~~ author unknown ~~

~If I Knew~

If I knew it would be the last time
that I'd see you fall asleep,
I would tuck you in more tightly
and pray the Lord, your soul to keep.

If I knew it would be the last time
that I see you walk out the door,
I would give you a hug and kiss
call you back for one more.

If I knew it would be the last time
I'd hear your voice lifted up in praise,
I would video tape each action and word,
so I could play them back day after day.

If I knew it would be the last time,
I could spare an extra minute or two
to stop and say "I love you," instead
of assuming you would KNOW I do.

If I knew it would be the last time
I would be there to share your day,
well I'm sure you'll have so many more,
so I can let just this one slip away.

For surely there's always tomorrow
to make up for an oversight,
and we always get a second chance
to make everything right.

There will always be another day
to say our "I love yous",
And certainly there's another chance
to say our "Anything I can dos?"

But just in case I might be wrong,
and today is all I get,
I'd like to say how much I love you
and I hope we never forget,

Tomorrow is not promised to anyone,
young or old alike,
And today may be the last chance
you get to hold your loved one tight..

So if you're waiting for tomorrow,
why not do it today?
For if tomorrow never comes,
you'll surely regret the day,

That you didn't take that extra time
for a smile, a hug, or a kiss
and you were too busy to grant someone,
what turned out to be their one last wish.

So hold your loved ones close today,
whisper in their ear,
Tell them how much you love them
and that you'll always hold them dear,

Take time to say "I'm sorry," "please forgive me,"
"thank you" or "it's okay."
  And if tomorrow never comes,
you'll have no regrets about today.

~author~

~Michelle Cole~

(WHEN TOMORROW STARTS WITHOUT ME)

When tomorrow starts without me,

and I'm not there to see

If the sun should rise and find your eyes

all filled with tears for me;

I wish so much you wouldn't cry

the way you did today,

while thinking of the many things

we didn't get to say.

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 an angel came and called my name

and took me by the hand,

and said my place was ready

in heaven far above,

and that I'd have to leave behind

all those I dearly love.

But as I turned to walk away,

a tear fell from my eye,

for all life,

I'd always thought I didn't want to die.

I had so much to live for

and so much yet to do,

it seemed 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 relive yesterday,

I thought, just for awhile,

I'd say goodbye and kiss you

and maybe see you smile.

But then I fully realized

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 gates,

I felt so much at home.

When God looked down and smiled at me,

from His great golden throne,

He said,

"This is eternity and all I've promised you".

Today for 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 day,

there's no longing for the past.

But you have been so faithful,

so trusting, and so true.

Though there were times you did some things

you knew you shouldn't do.

But you have been forgiven

and now at last you’re free.

So won't you take my hand

and share my life with me?

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.

by: David M. Romano

That Ol Cabin

Lay against the mountain is holy ground

Songs of inspiration are sweetly found.

As a lad we attend Church in these hills

Quiet is the meadow sending chill.

A dirt floor, windows were bare

I met the Master there.

That Ol Church gone now

To visit I cry I wipe my brow.

Here I found Jesus one blessed night

Winds chilled the hills, such a sight

Hallowed are the hills I look with awe

Mom, Dad and my Pa Pa.

The Ol Church now weathered with age

Amazing Grace, I turned each page.

Now grown am I, the Church is still there

Within my heart memories I share.

Most all the people now have drifted away

I left too, but I'm back today.

A tear runs down my cheek

Over there, I was baptized in the creek.

Ya I just stopped to share time with God

Heavy burdens lay on this green sod.

The preacher prayed for hearts heavy laden

Sunrise in the hills preaching a lonely madden.

I start to leave I break down an cry

Solace now that Ol Church, God and I.

© Author

Clyde A. McClellen, Jr.