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Section 1

But, I would not have you

to be ignorant, brethren, concerning

them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not,

even as others which have no hope.

For if we believe that Jesus died

and rose again, even so them also

which sleep in Jesus will

God bring with him.

For the Lord himself shall

descend from heaven with a shout,

with the voice of the archangel,

and with the trump of God:

and the dead in Christ shall rise first:

Wherefore comfort one another

with these words.

1Thess. 4:13-14,16,18

I have fought the good fight,

I have finished the race,

I have kept the faith.

Henceforth there is laid up for me

the crown of righteousness..."

2 Timothy 4:7-8

Bright New World

We feel so sad when those we love

Are touched by death's dark hand,

But it would ease our sorrow

If we could but understand

That death is just a gateway

That all men must pass through

And on the other side of death,

In a world that's bright and new,

Our loved ones wait to welcome us

To that land free from all tears

Where joy becomes eternal

And time is not counted by years.

Helen Steiner Rice

After Glow

I’d like the memory of me to be a happy one.

I’d like to leave an after glow 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

A Police Officers Prayer

Lord, I ask you to be with me

in a very special way,

as I face the challenges

that I must face each day.

Please give me the compassion

for the innocent I see.

Help me protect and serve those

who depend on me.

And, when duty calls to danger,

walk closely by me side.

Install in me great courage,

and be my strength, my guide.

And, whenever I’m called to do,

always thankful I will be,

that you have been the unseen guest

walking next to me.

Amen

A Treasure for the King

The wise may bring their learning,

the rich may bring their wealth,

and some may bring their greatness,

and some bring strength and health:

We too will bring our treasures

To offer to the King;

We have no wealth of learning,

So, what shall we children bring?

We'll bring Him hearts that love Him;

We'll bring him thankful praise,

And young souls meekly striving

To be with Him for all days:

And these shall be the treasurers

We offer to the King,

For these are gifts that even

A Wife, a Mother, a Grandma too

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 the other,

Not just as wife, not just as 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.

All Is Well

Death is nothing at all.

I have slipped away 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 to 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.

Pray, smile, think of me, pray for me.

Let my name be the household word that it always was.

Let it be spoken without effect,

Without trace of shadow on it.

Life means all that it ever meant,

It is the same as it ever was,

There is an unbroken continuity.

What is death but a negligible accident?

Why would 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.

-Canon Henry Scott Holland

And God said

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, 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 mine nailed to a 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."

Bright New World

We feel so sad when those we love

Are touched by death's dark hand,

But it would ease our sorrow

If we could but understand

That death is just a gateway

That all men must pass through

And on the other side of death,

In a world that's bright and new,

Our loved ones wait to welcome us

To that land free from all tears

Where joy becomes eternal

And time is not counted by years.

- Helen Steiner Rice

THE BROKEN CHAIN

We little knew that morning,

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,

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,

DAD

God took the strength of a mountain,

The majesty of a tree.

The warmth of the summer sun,

The calm of a quiet sea.

The generous soul of nature,

The comforting arm of night.

The wisdom of the age,

The power of the eagle's flight.

Then God combined these qualities,

There was nothing more to add.

His masterpiece was now complete,

He lovingly called it, Dad.

Fathers Are Wonderful People

Fathers are wonderful people

Too little understood,

And we do not sing their praises

As often as we should …

And Father struggles daily

To live up to “his image”

As protector and provider

And “hero of the scrimmage”

And perhaps that is the reason

We sometime get the notion

That Fathers are not subject

To the thing called emotion,

But if you look inside Dad’s heart,

Where no one else can see,

You’ll find he’s sentimental

And as “soft” as can be …

Fathers are just wonderful

In a million different ways,

And they merit loving compliments

And accolades of praise,

For the only reason Dad aspires

To fortune and success

Is to make the family proud of him

And to bring happiness …

And like Our Heavenly Father,

He’s a guardian and guide,

Someone we can count on

To be always on our side.

Helen Steiner Rice

Folded Hands

(In memory of his father)

He folded his hands in prayer;

Morning, noon, and night,

He walked in the Father's sight.

In days that were gloomy or fair,

He folded his hands in prayer.

He folded his hands in sleep,

Closing each labored day

In faith that his earthly way

The watchful Shepherd would keep.

He folded his hands in sleep.

He folded his hands in death,

The peace of God in his soul,

Assured of the heavenly goal.

A prayer his expiring breath,

He folded his hands in death.

Daughter, You Are Special

"Special" is a word that is used to describe

something one-of-a-kind

like a hug, or a sunset, or a person who spreads love

with a smile or kind gesture.

"Special" describes people who act from the heart and

keep in mind the hearts of others.

"Special" applies to something that is admired and precious and which never can be replaced.

"Special" is the word that best describes you.

-Teri Fernandez

To Daughter

I remember so well our first meeting,

I looked into your trusting eyes, and you captured my heart.

Your tiny hands reached out

and gave me warmth and purpose.

The years since have passed so quickly --

filled with happiness and love.

No mother could ask for more in a daughter.

I recall again that first meeting,

with love and pride to be your mom.

-Margaret Benson

FEELINGS

We feel sad,

for what we have lost.

We feel happy,

for what we have had.

We feel poor,

for the empty spaces.

We feel rich,

for we have each other.

We will cry,

for what we can't have.

We will laugh,

for our memories abound.

We will hurt,

for the love we can't give.

We will rejoice,

for the love we have received.

We will be restless,

for our lives are not whole.

We will be peaceful,

for we know its not forever.

Annette Hamilton

DEATH IS NOTHING AT ALL

I have only slipped away 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 to me in the easy way you always used

Put no difference into your tone

Wear no forced air of solemnity or sorrow

Laugh as we always laughed

At the little jokes we always enjoyed together

Play, smile, think of me,

Let my name be ever the household word that it always was

Let it be spoken without effort

Without the ghost of a shadow in it

Life means all that it ever meant

It is the same as it ever was

There is absolute 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.

Nothing is past; nothing is lost

One brief moment and all will be as it was before

How we shall laugh at the trouble of parting when we meet again!

Canon Henry Scott-Holland

Because I Could Not Stop for Death

He kindly stopped for me;

The carriage held but just

ourselves and immortality.

We slowly drove, he knew no haste,

And I had put away my labor,

And my leisure too, for his civility.

We passed the school where children played,

Their lessons scarcely done;

We passed the fields of grazing grain,

We passed the setting sun.

We passed before a house that seemed

A swelling on the ground;

The roof was scarcely visible.

The cornice but a mound.

Since then ‘tis centuries,

But each feels shorter than a day;

I just surmised the horses’ heads

Were toward eternity.

The Firefighter's Prayer

Desiderata

"Go placidly amid the noise and the haste,

and remember what peace there may be in silence.

As far as possible, without surrender,

be on good terms with all persons.

Speak your truth quietly and clearly;

and listen to others, even the dull and ignorant;

They too have their story.

Avoid loud and aggressive persons;

they are vexatious to the spirit.

If you compare yourself with others,

you may become vain or bitter,

for always there will be greater and lesser persons than yourself.

Enjoy your achievements as well as your plans.

Keep interested in your own career, however humble;

It is a real possession in the changing fortunes of time.

Exercise caution in your business affairs,

for the world is full of trickery.

But let this not blind you to what virtue there is;

Many persons strive for high ideals,

and everywhere life is full of heroism.

Be yourself. Especially do not feign affection.

Neither be cynical about love;

for in the face of all aridity and disenchantment

it is as perennial as the grass.

Take kindly the council of the years,

Gracefully surrendering the things of youth.

Nurture strength of spirit to shield you in sudden misfortune.

But do not distress yourself with dark imaginings.

Many fears are born of fatigue and loneliness.

Beyond a healthy discipline,

Be gentle with yourself.

You are a child of the universe no less than the trees and the stars;

you have a right to be here,

and whether or not it is clear to you,

no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should.

Therefore, be at peace with God,

Whatever you conceive Him to be.

And whatever your labors and aspirations,

in the noisy confusion of life,

keep peace in your soul.

With all its sham, drudgery, and broken dreams,

it is still a beautiful world.

Be cheerful.

Your thoughtful tribute to our loved one

and the sympathy it conveyed

will always be remembered

with deepest gratitude

By the family of

Thank you for your

thoughtful kindness

at a time when it was

greatly appreciated

By the family of

ACK 2

Acknowledging with

grateful appreciation

your comforting expression

of sympathy.

By the family of

ACK  3

We wish to acknowledge

with sincere thanks

the kind expression

of your sympathy.

By the family of

ACK 4

Your thoughtfulness means

a lot to us,

more than we can say,

and our warm appreciation comes

with this thank you note today.

By the family of

ACK 5

Your kind expression of sympathy

is deeply appreciated

and gratefully acknowledged.

By the family of

ACK 6

Your kindness and concern

have meant so very much

and will always be remembered.

By the family of

ACK 7

We have lost someone

very special...

Thank you for

sharing our grief.

By the family of

ACK 8

Perhaps you sent a lovely card,

or sat quietly in a chair.

Perhaps you sent a floral piece,

if so we saw it there.

Perhaps you spoke the kindest words,

as a friend could say.

Perhaps you were not there at all,

just thought of us that day.

Whatever you did to console our hearts

we thank you so much whatever the part.

By the family of

ACK 9

The family of

[Person's Name]

acknowledges

with grateful appreciation

your kind expression

of sympathy.

Your comforting

remembrance

and kindly thoughts

are deeply appreciated.

By the family of

ACK 11

At a time like this,

we realize how much our family and

friends really mean to us.

Your kind expression of sympathy is

gratefully acknowledged and

deeply appreciated.

By the family of

ACK 12

At a time like this,

we realize how much our family and

friends really mean to us.

Your kind expression of sympathy is

gratefully acknowledged and

deeply appreciated.

By the family of

ACK 12+

Our hearts are broken.

Our arms are empty.

But our memories and

your thoughtfulness

comfort us.

By the family of

ACK 13

We are so grateful

for your

comfort and concern.

By the family of

ACK 14

For all the kindness you have shown,

we thank you very much.

For the sympathy in sorrowing days,

for friendship's healing touch.

With gratitude our hearts are full,

though words cannot convey,

the tender thoughts and thankfulness

we hold for you today.

By the family of

ACK 15

To thank you for your

kindness and sympathy

at a time when it was

deeply appreciated.

By the family of

ACK 16

ACK 17

Thank you for your

kindness and sympathy

during this difficult time.

By the family of

ACK 19

Your comforting

remembrance

and kindly thoughts

are deeply

appreciated

By the family of

ACK 20

Just to know

That in countless ways

our family and friends are with us,

makes the way easier.

Thank you.

The Family of

A friendly smile,

a casual touch,

these are the things

that mean so much.

To know you are with us

in our time of sorrow,

sharing our prayers

today and tomorrow.

God gives us comfort

in the form of good friends.

May His peace be with you,

His love never ends.

By the family of

A friendly smile,

a casual touch,

these are things

that mean so much.

To know you are with us

in our time of sorrow,

sharing our prayers

today and tomorrow.

The Creator gives us comfort

in the form of good friends.

May His peace be with you,

His love never ends.

By the family of

Thank you for your

thoughtful kindness

at a time when it

was

greatly appreciated.

By the family of

ACK 22

I thank my God upon

every remembrance of you.

Philippians 1:3

Thank you for letting God's love

show through you at this time.

God's Blessings

By the family of

ACK 23