~31~
PSALM 93
(1)
The
Lord is king, with majesty enrobed;
the Lord has
robed himself with might,
he has girded
himself with power.
(2)
The world
you made firm, not to be moved;
your
throne has stood firm from of old.
From all eternity,
O Lord, you are.
(3)
The waters
have lifted up, O Lord,
the waters
have lifted up their voice,
the waters
have lifted up their thunder.
(4)
Greater than
the roar of mighty waters
more glorious
than the surgings of the sea,
the Lord is
glorious on high.
(5)
Truly your
decrees are to be trusted.
Holiness is
fitting to your house,
O Lord, until
the end of time.
~32~
~IRISH BLESSING~
~Author Unknown~
May the road
rise up to meet you,
May the wind
be always at your back,
May the sun
shine warm upon your face,
And the rains
fall soft upon your fields,
And until
we meet again,
May God hold
you in the hollow of His hands.
~33~
~AND GOD SAID~
~Author Unknown~
I said,
"God, I hurt."
And God said,
"I know."
I said, "God,
I cry a lot."
And God said,
"That is why
I gave you tears."
I said, "God,
I am so depressed."
And God said,
"That is why
I gave you sunshine."
I said,
"God, life
is so hard."
And God said,
"That is why
I gave you loved ones."
I said,
"God, my loved
one died."
And God said,
"So did mine."
I said,
"God, it is
such a loss."
And God said,
"I saw my
Son nailed to the cross."
I said,
"God, but
your loved one lives."
And God said,
"So does yours."
I said,
"God, where
are they now."
And God said,
"Mine is on
my right and yours is in the Light."
I said, "God,
it hurts."
And God said,
"I know."
~34~
~TINY SOUL~
~Author Unknown~
When God sends
forth a tiny soul
To learn the
way of earth,
A mother's
love is waiting here ~
We call this
wonder ~ birth.
When God calls
home a tired soul
And stills
a fleeting breath,
A Father's
love is waiting there,
This too is
birth ~ not death.
~35~
~COME CLOSER~
~Author Unknown~
Come closer,
can you hear
the pain?
My heart can
tell you things
that my mouth
cannot utter.
The mask I
wear shows a smile.
It says that
I am fine.
But the pain
deep within.
You were taken
so quickly,
there was
no time for good-bye.
In one quick
breath, your life was gone.
Why?
Seasons come,
bringing forth flowers' bloom.
Seasons go
and blossoms wane.
You, dear
child, live in my heart,
and there,
you will never die.
Come closer,
come closer,
listen to
my heart.
I remember;
I will always remember.
You are there.
~36~
~THE BROKEN
CHAIN~
~Author Unknown~
We had no way
of knowing
when God would
call your name.
In life we
loved you dearly.
in death we
do the same.
It broke our
hearts to lose you,
you did not
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.
~37~
~GOD'S LENT
CHILD~
~Florence
Carres~
"I'll lend
you for a little while
a child of
mine," God said,
"For you to
love the while she lives,
and mourn
for when she's dead."
"It may be
one or two years
or forty-two
or -three;
But will you,
till I call her back,
take care
of her for me?"
"She'll bring
her charms to gladden you
and (should
her stay be brief)
You'll have
her lovely memories
as a solace
for your grief."
"I cannot promise
she will stay,
since ALL
from earth return;
But the lessons
taught below
I want this
child to learn."
"I've looked
the whole world over
in search
for teachers true;
And from the
things that crowd
Life's lane
-- I've chosen you."
"Will you give
her all your love?
Nor think
the labor vain?
Nor hate me
when I come to take
the lent child
back again?"
"I fancied
that I heard them say,
"Dear Lord,
Thy will be done.
For joys Thy
child will bring
the risk of
grief we'll run."
We will shelter
her with tenderness,
we'll love
her while we may,
and for the
happiness we've known
forever grateful
stay.
But should
Thy angels call for her
much sooner
than we've planned,
We'll brave
the grief that comes
and try to
understand."
~38~
~A BABY'S PRAYER~
~Kathy Troccoli~
I can hear
her talking with a friend
and I think
it's all about me
Oh how she
can't have a baby now
My mommy doesn't
see
That I feel
her breathe- I know her voice
Her blood,
it flows through my heart
God, my greatest
wish is that we'd never be apart
But if I should
die before I wake
I pray her
soul you'll keep
Forgive her,
Lord, she doesn't know
That you gave
life to me
Do I really
have to say goodbye
Don't want
this time to be through
Oh, please
tell her that I love her, Lord
And that you
love her too
Cause if I
should die before I wake
I pray her
soul you'll keep
Forgive her,
Lord, she doesn't know
That you gave
life to me
On the days
that she may think of me
Please comfort
her with the truth
That the angels
hold me safe and sound
Cause I'm
in Heaven with you
I'm in Heaven
with you
~39~
~THE MENTION
OF MY CHILD'S NAME~
~Nancy Williams~
The mention
of my child's name
may bring
tears to my eyes
But it never
fails
to bring music
to my ears
If you really
are my friend
please don
keep me from hearing
the beautiful
music
It soothes
my broken heart
and fills
my soul with love.
~40~
~LIFETIME OF
HEALING~
~Elizabeth
Dent~
Go ahead and
mention my child,
The one who
died you know,
Don't worry
about hurting me further,
The depth
of my pain doesn't show,
Don't worry
about making me cry,
I'm already
crying inside,
Help me to
heal by releasing,
The tears
I try to hide,
I'm hurt when
you keep silent,
Pretending
she didn't exist,
I'd rather
you mention my child,
Knowing that
she has been missed,
You asked me
how I was doing,
I say "pretty
good" and "fine",
But healing
is something ongoing,
I feel it
will take a lifetime.
